20 November 2024
A wastewater storage lagoon capable of meeting the demands of the fast growing Mansfield population will soon be operational and have the capacity to hold the equivalent of 100 Olympic sized swimming pools.

The new Wastewater Management Facility lagoon will hold 250 megalitres, almost doubling the fully treated wastewater winter storage volume of the Dead Horse Lane site. The current storage lagoon is capable of holding 225 megalitres.

This new 340 metre long, 215 metre wide and 4.7 metre deep lagoon has 12,000 tonne of rock embedded into its banks as a means of stabilising the site and preventing erosion.

Construction work is expected to be complete by Christmas and the lagoon will be fully operational by February next year.

Goulburn Valley Water Managing Director Dr Steve Capewell said the lagoon was part of Goulburn Valley Water’s plans to grow and improve infrastructure in Mansfield to ensure the continuing delivery of reliable services.

“The additional storage will also boost the amount of recycled water available for irrigation as part of GVW’s onsite farming operations, as well as Mansfield Golf Club and nearby farming operations.

“It will also complement the recently constructed purple recycled water standpipe, which is designed to increase the use of alternate water sources and reduce dependency on drinking water supplies.

“Finally, the new lagoon will reduce the need for wet weather-related emergency recycled water releases into nearby waterways, which have occurred in past years,” Dr Capewell said.

Increasing recycled water storage in Mansfield is one of the priority actions in GVW’s 2022 Urban Water Strategy, a 50-year plan designed to help sustainably manage the region’s water resources.