Water Security for Buchan project
Securing Buchan’s water future
In June 2025, East Gippsland Water began construction on an exciting new water storage project in Buchan, which is set to provide the township with improved water quality and supply capability well into the future.
The Water Security for Buchan project centres on the construction of a new 700kL tank – along with associated pumps, pipes and infrastructure – at a site adjacent to the existing riverside EGW Water Treatment Plant in Lousadas Road, Buchan.
Part of the $5.81m project includes removing Buchan’s current aging and deteriorating concrete water storage tanks, which are situated on a hilltop within the Buchan Caves Reserve.
Buchan’s current water storage system is comprised of 14 concrete water tanks that were constructed in the 1970s.
Some of these old tanks have experienced considerable degradation and are leaking millions of litres of water every year, despite multiple attempts at repair.
Once the new system is in place, these old tanks will be decommissioned, removed and recycled. We will then explore the opportunity to work with the Traditional Owners and Parks Victoria to return the site to the Buchan Caves Reserve, with the site to be rehabilitated to suit the natural surrounding environment.
The construction work for the Water Security for Buchan project is being performed by East Gippsland company Whelcon Pty Ltd, supported by multiple locally based sub-contractors. East Gippsland Water is working closely with the contractors to assist with and oversee all aspects of the project, including local community engagement and environmental stewardship.
The advantages of the new Buchan water-storage system will include:
- a more resilient, reliable and secure water supply for the community
- increased water supply capacity for Buchan
- reduced maintenance and improved water quality
- a single, compact footprint for EGW’s Buchan water supply and treatment operations leading to increased efficiencies, as well as improved environmental outcomes for Buchan Caves Reserve.
This project received $1.905 million in Australian Government funding through the National Water Grid’s Water Infrastructure for Sustainable and Efficient Regions (WISER) funding initiative. You can find out more about this and other Victorian WISER projects here.
The project is being delivered in partnership with East Gippsland Water, which is contributing the remaining $3.905m of funding to bring the project to life.
The team at East Gippsland Water is thankful for the support provided by the Australian and Victorian governments, which has enabled us to embark on a project that will ensure Buchan enjoys an ample supply of fresh, clean drinking water for decades to come.
The Buchan community can expect to see construction activity for the project increasing towards the end of 2025. East Gippsland Water and its delivery partners will work closely with the local community to minimise any disruptions caused by the construction of this new and vital water-security infrastructure.
The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
Keep an eye out on this page for progress updates of this project.
