DOCKLANDS AMONG $14.2M STORMWATER HARVESTING PROJECTS PROPOSED

Docklands is among three stormwater harvesting projects expected to save 435 million litres of water a year in the inner Melbourne area which is the equivalent of 174 Olympic sized swimming pools. Federal Minister for Water, Penny Wong joined Cath Bowtell Labor Candidate for the marginal seat of Melbourne, in announcing that a Labor government would spend $14.2 million reusing stormwater at sites which include Docklands, Melbourne Park and Fitzroy Gardens.

Under the scheme, Docklands residents would be able to substitute one third of their drinking water for treated stormwater to enable watering plants, flushing toilets as well as firefighting, saving around 30 per cent of Docklands non drinking needs.

The funding would also be for the City of Melbourne to use treated stormwater in Fitzroy and Alexandra Gardens and Birrarung Marr. Melbourne and Olympic Parks could store run-off water to be treated and used to service 80 per cent of Melbourne Park\'s non drinking needs

Minister Wong denied that the announcement was to counter the challenge from the Greens - Adam Bandt for the green vote in this marginal seat.