Barwon Water

Over the past 100 years, Barwon Water has undertaken many significant projects to improve water supply and quality, and to provide efficient sewerage services. Each week, read about the people and projects interwoven into the colourful fabric of our history.

1965 Sewerage system upgrade
Although a new treatment plant at Oyster Cove would be the quickest and cheapest solution to Geelong’s sewerage problems, it did not resolve issues such as the rapidly decaying outfall sewer and creating two separate systems. The idea was dropped, leaving only one option – that of continuing to send all Geelong’s sewage to an ocean outfall. The old sewer was only decayed south of the city; the rest remained in excellent condition and there seemed no reason why it could not remain in service. The trust finally decided to replace the deteriorating section and construct a duplicate sewer through the city and to the north. The duplicate sewer would begin in North Geelong and run south through the city and suburbs to the coast. In the city, it would pass under Latrobe Terrace, reaching a maximum depth of 115 feet, emerging to cross the river at Riverview Terrace on a new aqueduct and then continue through Belmont. On leaving the city, it would run roughly parallel to the old sewer main to the ocean outfall. Finalising this design took years. Macintyre gave commissioners a full report on the problems with the old sewer in May 1958, and work started on the first stage of the project in 1965.

1958 Sewerage system problems
Problems with the original sewer had become so serious by the 1950s that initial repairs cost more than ₤3,000. By 1958, the situation had deteriorated and a maintenance gang was created to manage the outfall. The aqueduct also continued to be an unsolvable and expensive problem. In 1951, the trust spent ₤3,000 on repairs, in 1957 major work on some of the main structural members cost ₤22,000 and more repairs in 1967 cost ₤3,000. The sewer began approaching the limit of its capacity by 1955, but it would still be some time before corrosion and capacity problems had to be solved. The problem of trade waste began to emerge, with major industrial development taking place around Corio Bay to the north of Geelong. The Geelong Town Planning Scheme of 1959 set aside 16 acres at Oyster Cove on Corio Bay for a sewage treatment and disposal plant to take trade waste, but by the 1960s the public and trust began to become aware of the effects of effluent on the environment. Any plan to pump even highly treated effluent into Corio Bay began to seem like a bad idea. There were also questions about the effect of the outfall sewer on the waters around Black Rock and the trust began acknowledging there might be some “slight problems there”.

1961 Construction begins
The first work on West Barwon Reservoir was construction of a tunnel 511 feet long and 11 feet in diameter that acted as a river diversion while the embankment was being built. The embankment was similar in concept to the trust’s pervious dams, but limited amounts of clay on site meant the structure had more rock and a relatively thin barrier of clay at the base tapering toward the top. The ground on which the embankment was to be built was excavated down to bedrock. Construction was planned to take two years, but it took three because wet winters brought work to a virtual standstill. The moisture content of the clay put into the embankment was critical and rain made it difficult to meet the necessary specifications. Old hands in dam building said a life would be lost for every million pounds of a project and two men were killed on the West Barwon. One was the contractor’s office manager, who was killed on Christmas Eve, 1962, when a big truck ran out of control down an embankment and demolished the site office. The second fatality involved an employee of the contractor, who was killed in February, 1962, when he was struck by earth moving equipment. Work on the embankment was completed in March, 1966, with only the spillway and outlet tower remaining to be completed. The new reservoir could hold 4,800 million gallons. The Governor of Victoria officially opened the reservoir on November 17, 1965.

1959 Financing West Barwon
Financing the West Barwon Reservoir project was complicated. The trust had extensive experience in raising loans, but this was by far the most expensive project it had undertaken and needed approvals from Commonwealth and State Governments. In October, 1959, commissioners met the Premier to discuss funding and began talks with Treasury and the SR&WSC to finalise the financial details. The major issue was the reservoir had to be paid for when it was constructed, but its full potential would not be realised for many years. Borrowing had to be arranged on the basis the reservoir would be paid for in the future by residents, who would get the full use of it then. Even so, there would be a significant increase in rates to begin meeting the cost.

1958 West Barwon Reservoir
The West Barwon Reservoir was the centrepiece of the upper Barwon system because it would store water from the upper Barwon catchment, giving the trust two storages in the system. The SR&WSC began site investigation in 1951 and did most of the design work, which the trust took over and completed in late 1958. Construction began in November, 1959, and it was completed in 1965. The project cost about ₤2.5 million. The SR&WSC had investigated a number of sites around the West Barwon area and about the time the design was handed over to the trust, the final site was chosen immediately downstream of the junctions of the West Barwon River and Monday Creek. An engineer with experience in dam design, Geoff Earp, was employed to prepare the final design and specifications. He did all the calculations by hand, using only a slide rule, and was happy for the SR&WSC to review his work to ensure no errors. In October, 1960, the SR&WSC gave final approval for the project specifications.

1954-1956 Wurdee Boluc upgrade
Even before the upper Barwon agreement had been signed, the trust undertook supervision of the Wurdee Boluc storage enlargement from 2.75 million to 4.1 million gallons. The enlargement involved constructing embankments about 10 feet high and extending them around to the south. The SR&WSC had designed the enlargement similar to others, with a central core preventing water from escaping, supported by earth and rock to provide strength and stability. Commissioner Carr turned the first sod in September, 1954, and the work was completed in April, 1956. The Wurdee Boluc inlet channel was 37 miles long from its starting point on the East Barwon River down to Wurdee Boluc. The SR&WSC had completed designing the enlargement by 1954 so it could carry 50 million gallons a day. The project included concreting some sections of the channel and duplicating or replacing syphons to transfer water across valleys. The work was finished around 1957. The final link in the improved system between the upper Barwon River and Geelong was duplication of the 16-mile long channel from Wurdee Boluc to Pettavel basin to double the daily flow to Geelong to about 40 million gallons. The concrete-lined channel was official opened on July 6, 1961.

1954-1955 The trust takes control of the Upper Barwon system
In October 1953, the trust asked the SR&WSC what additional supplies were available from the upper Barwon system, when it could be obtained and how much is would cost. By March 1954, the discussion with the SR&WSC had reached a point where the trust understood it would have to take over the supply system and develop it if it wanted more water. The clear message was the SR&WSC was busy across the whole of Victoria and could not do the necessary work. Documents were signed in 1955 for the trust to take control of the upper Barwon water supply system as far down as Geelong. At the stroke of a pen, the trust had virtually doubled the capacity of its water supply system from 4,300 to 8,400 million gallons.Between 1945 and 1952, the SR&WSC had studied how the upper Barwon system could supply more water and proposed a scheme to construct a major dam on the West Barwon River, double the capacity of the Wurdee Boluc inlet channel, enlarge the Wurdee Boluc Reservoir and increase the capacity of the outlet channel to carry the additional water to Geelong and the peninsula. These works became the trust’s responsibility and another round of even more expensive construction work began.

1953-1954 Bostock Reservoir finally completed
The trust became one of the most important public institutions in Geelong. Unlike municipal councils that government their own little parts of Geelong, the trust served the whole community. Residents felt it belonged to them because they elected the commissioners, invested their money in it and paid for its services.Geelong grew in size and population rapidly and the trust was vital to continuing growth. A good water supply was the prime requirement for industrial and residential development.The trust’s first major project after the war was construction of Bostock Reservoir on the East Moorabool River, near Ballan. It would hold 1,500 million gallons. It has been planned 20 years earlier and the trust returned to it when it needed a new supply for the rapidly growing city. Work started on June 14, 1953. Work went on for more than a year as the embankment grew to its full height of 84 feet. Meanwhile, another contractor constructed the channel that would carry water from the storage into the supply system. It was completed in September 1954. The official opening was held on December 15, 1954, at the top of the embankment. It was attended by 400 dignitaries and virtually all of the trust’s office staff travelled there in a hired bus.

1953 The long boom
The way forward for the trust was now clear. Where there had been resistance and bureaucratic delays, the government inquiry had brought assistance and co-operation, with approvals for major projects now coming quickly. The beginning of the 1950s and the new Menzies Liberal Government in Canberra signaled an end to the problems of previous years and heralded what later became known as the “Long Boom”. Geelong began expanding rapidly and requests for water supply or sewerage service extensions came thick and fast. Things were booming so rapidly the trust found it difficult to keep water supply maintenance staff and from the end of March, 1950, the wages of outdoor workers were increased by up to 12/- a week.Approval to construct the Highton service basin had been given before the committee inquiry and the contract for earthworks was awarded in August 1949. Work began on August 15 and Engineer-in-Chief Pearce officially commissioned it on June 30, 1950. Increased demand for water and sewerage in Geelong led to rapid expansion of the trust’s staff and equipment. In January 1949, the authority took delivery of a mechanical trench digger that was able to do the work of several men with greater speed. In November 1949, approval was given to buy three trucks, two trailers, two cars and a utility truck. By September 1950, a second trench digger, mechanical excavator and a second air compressor were purchased.

1949-1950 The trust is reconstituted
Public outrage over the water supply shortages led to an inquiry by a State Development Committee into the operations of the trust. The committee conducted public hearings in Geelong in January and February 1949 and took evidence from the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission, the trust, the City of Geelong and others. The committee tabled its report on May 11 and it was all good news with one exception. The committee’s eight recommendations generally supported the trust’s existing plans for improving its infrastructure network, taking more water from the Bellarine Peninsula system, constructing the Highton service basin and building Bostock Reservoir. The report also recommended the government should give the SR&WSC and trust every possible support in achieving these goals. The only part of the report that did not please commissioners was the recommendation that it should be reconstituted with additional members and a chairman appointed by the government. Commissioners said the recommendation had been put forward by people who did not have the full facts about the operation and organisation of the trust, and would give the government a role it did not deserve. Despite the objection, the government moved quickly to reconstitute the trust.

1948-1950 The water supply system struggles to meet demand (part two)
The war had passed without the need for water restrictions, although the trust had issued stern warnings in September and October 1944 that if people did not show restraint restrictions would be imposed. A year later, there was less water in the storages and bans were imposed from October 1945 to March 1946. The following year the trust again asked consumers to conserve water and restrictions were avoided. They might have been avoided again in 1848 as there was sufficient water in the storages, but high domestic and industrial demand sucked water out of the supply basins around Geelong more quickly than they could be refilled. In the early morning of February 2, 1948, the feeder main from Waurn Ponds to Montpellier burst and had to be shut down for repairs between 10am and 2am the following day. The trust imposed 72-hour restrictions because reserves in Montpellier were already low, but public response was poor and by the time the pipe had been repaired the basins were empty. The results left higher levels of the city without water. Only strenuous efforts by members of the engineering staff ensured a supply to the hospital. Criticism of the trust was stinging, but commissioners decided to leave the critics unanswered.

1947-1948 The water supply system struggles to meet demand (part one)
By the end of the war, the population had grown to 53,000, with about 12,700 houses connected, and by the end of the decade the population had reached almost 58,000, with around 13,700 houses connected. The water supply system was struggling after years of forced neglect and rapidly growing demand and complaints about poor pressure became almost as common as protests about water quality. Public criticism was sharpened when local fire brigades complained they were handicapped by poor pressure. In early 1947, the Corio Club hall burned down and the brigade claimed its failure to save it was due to pressure problems. Fire brigades, local government and the trust frequently tested the pressure, but the overriding factor was fluctuating demand that could affect how much water was available in the system at any one time. The trust argued its program of improving the distribution mains was retarded by the acute shortage of materials and labour. An inability to improve supply from the beginning of the 1930s had a significant impact on the trust’s capacity to meet high summer demand.

1946-1947 The trust begins to modernise
As post-war growth slowly emerged, the trust looked for additional land in Little Malop Street for stores and offices. However, attempts to buy or lease land or buildings near the office in Ryrie Street were fruitless. Changes occurred in the storeyard as after the war, new kinds of pipe, steel and asbestos cement began replacing the old cast iron pipes and wooden pipes were taken out of service as the water supply system was upgraded. These changes led to new pipe-joining techniques and the blacksmith shop in the storeyard was closed and replaced by a mechanical workshop and garage. The Ryrie Street office remained relatively unchanged, however working conditions began to improve. In June 1946, a superannuation scheme for staff was introduced. Previously, employees, even those with many years’ service, usually received nothing when they left. The new scheme guaranteed staff members some permanent income after they retired and when it was launched, there were 46 employees entitled to the income, including seven women. Only permanent staff were included, not the majority of the storeyard and day labour employees. In November 1947, the trust followed other local bodies by introducing the 40-hour week, and closed on Saturdays.

1944-1945 New water supply investigations for Colac
When the fighting ended in August 1945, commissioners began their monthly meeting by standing silently for two minutes in memory of the fallen. They then turned their attention to the returning the trust to business as usual despite the restrictions, rations and shortages that were still in place. Part of the air-raid shelter was converted into a lunch room for storeyard staff. The end of the war opened the floodgates for applications for water supply and sewerage services once again. The Colac-Otway region was continuing its search for alternative water supply sources and a comprehensive probe into the utilisation of ground water in the area was completed in July 1945. It estimated total water requirements would reach 426,000 gallons a day and could be supplied by the provision of a large number of widely scattered bores. Catchment areas of sufficient elevation to provide a gravitational supply for the scheme were suggested at Red Rock and Warrion Hills. However, the upper surfaces of the hills consisted of volcanic scoria and the surrounding country comprised of rich volcanic soil overlaying basalt. Water for domestic, industrial and stock use throughout the district being, was largely being obtained from shallow bores. Dissolved mineral salts in the bore water of the area had been the cause of complaints by users. Samples revealed a total hardness of 307 parts per million at Coragulac, with bicarbonate alkalinity showing at 190 parts. Respective figures at Warrion were 186 and 250. These totals compared with Olangolah readings at the time of 46 and 28.

1942-1943 Plans for post-war development
A special meeting of commissioners in November 1942, on improving the water supply for Geelong and surrounding districts, kicked off a new forward-looking trust intent on post-war growth and development. Governments also began looking to the future beyond the war and lay plans for what would put the country on the right path for the future. The Shire of Corio, in which most of the new heavy industrial development had taken place, asked the trust to plan for additional sewerage facilities for North Geelong and the North Shore area. In 1943, the government asked the trust to send details about the urgent and important works it would like to undertake immediately when the war ended. The Shire of Corio asked the trust to add water supply to Lara to that list. Following the meeting of commissioners in late 1942, the Engineer-in-Chief was asked to prepare a report on supplementary supplies to Geelong and Pearce had developed the “Supplementary Water Supply” plan shortly afterwards. It proposed almost doubling the amount of water Geelong took from the Bellarine Peninsula system and constructing new mains and a new service basin at Highton at the same height as Lovely Banks so water could flow between them. But any work would have to wait until the end of the war.

1941 - Employees off to war and Doyle dies in office
With the pressure of World War II coming closer to Australian shores, trust employees began enlisting in the military services. Each was granted leave-of-absence for the duration of the war and, as the trust had done during World War I, it paid the difference between their work and military pay. In September, Chairman Doyle died unexpectedly. He had been a member of the trust since commissioners of the Geelong Municipal Waterworks Trust first met in 1908 and possessed a wealth of experience in Geelong’s water industry that would be impossible to replace. He was Chairman of the trust from 1928 to his time of death in September 1941. Belcher moved into the vacant Chairman’s position while real estate magnate Jack Carr was elected as a new commissioner.

1939 - 1940 World War II comes to Geelong
In September 1939, the Geelong Waterworks and Sewerage Trust was given responsibility for the Barwon River from the falls to the aqueduct, a distance of about seven miles. The trust’s first priority was to remove weeds that had grown in the river threatening rowing carnivals. After that, it conducted a complete survey of the river before planning what to do next. To pay for all the work a levy was charged to all ratepayers and while some Crown land near the river was under the trust’s management, the government retained all rights to use water in the river. War was declared at the beginning of September 1939 and once the impact of war on daily life was being felt locally, the number of new houses being built and requests for new water and sewerage connections petered out. The trust, like many organisations in Australia, began preparing for the worst and moved its important documents away from Geelong, built staff an air raid shelter and participated in air raid precaution exercises. The trust’s facilities were vital to Geelong and had to be protected. Men were appointed to watch over the most vulnerable parts of the system to prevent possible sabotage. Fishing licences were revoked and by-laws passed to prevent trespass on trust property and catchments. Geelong became a centre in the build up of military forces for the Pacific War because of its port facilities. In 1940, the trust provided water and sewerage to an aircraft park where machines from overseas were assembled and restored. It laid on a supply from Montpellier to Fyansford where a military camp was established and sewered the military encampment at the showgrounds working through the Christmas holidays to complete the work as quickly as possible. During 1940, the trust was also asked to provide a list of employees who could be called up for universal service and for the names of those it considered could not be spared.

1937-1939 Water authority amalgamation in Colac hits a snag
Amalgamation of the Colac Waterworks Trust and the Colac Sewerage Authority, along with other municipal services into a proposed Colac Borough Council, was the primary aim of a carefully organised campaign, which began in 1937. The move was led by Walter Selwood, a former and foundation member of the trust. He addressed a public meeting in April 1937 launching the movement and referring to other instances where amalgamation of public services had improved towns. Selwood deplored the paucity of public buildings in Colac in his subsequent speeches, describing the courthouse as tumbling down and the Post Office as antiquated. He used four towns as a successful example of combining public services including Ararat, Hamilton, Horsham and Sale. Waterworks trust commissioner Charles Stewart conceded with the formation of a Borough, the Waterworks Trust and Sewerage Authority could be carried under the one administration, which would secure a better service and save money. A poll was held in August, 1937 asking ratepayers to decide. There was a 90 per cent turnout of voters on the issue but a surprisingly small margin of voters in favour of the Borough despite the intensive campaign. However, with the movement approved, the Waterworks trust councillors faced eviction with the Borough to take over all aspects of the trust and Sewerage Authority. In May 1938, the commissioners agreed there was no need to hurry the amalgamation as the new Borough Council would have its “hands full”. However, in an interesting turn of events, the State Minister for Water Supply revealed those who had organised the moves to take over the water supply and treatment utilities had not entirely done their homework. He said there were no legislative processes to allow the merger of the utilities in Colac. Two trust commissioners called for the legislation to be changed immediately to allow the amalgamation, but it was decided any further moves should be made by the Borough Council. While the Borough Council acknowledged the situation in a letter to the trust in April 1839 advising steps should be taken to obtain an amendment to the Water Act, no further developments occurred with the takeover of the trust and Sewerage Authority until September 1968.

1937 - 1938 Recovery from the depression
Geelong was experiencing a mini industrial boom in its post-depression years. Work by the Geelong Waterworks and Sewerage trust laying new mains around the coast in either direction from the city, particularly north around Corio Bay, was proving valuable in attracting industries to the city. The promise of a good water supply was key in attracting companies such as the International Harvester Company, which established a factory at North Shore in 1937. When the Grain Elevator Board began constructing a large terminal on Corio Bay to load bulk grain from Western Victoria onto international shipping, the trust provided water and a sewerage ejector for the new facility. By 1938, Geelong had almost reached a new peak of energy and activity with about 220 new homes also built that year.With the Bellarine scheme now operational, approximately half of Geelong’s water supply came from the Bellarine Peninsula system. In October, 1938, the trust and State Rivers and Water Supply Commission agreed to expand the use of the system with new mains to distribute water across the city. The most important was an 18-inch pipe from Montpellier to West Geelong to meet the growing needs of industry.

1935-1936 - Sharland leaves the trust
The year 1935 saw the retirement of Engineer-in-Chief James Sharland, one of the founders of the Geelong Waterworks and Sewerage Trust. Sharland retired reluctantly after suffering poor health for a number of years. He was on sick leave for about three months in 1923 and again three years later. In 1927 the trust gave him six months’ leave so he could recover his health, but he spent it traveling around Europe looking at different waterworks in various countries. He turned 67 in 1935 and his health failed again forcing his resignation on August 1. Richard Pearce, who also joined the trust when it was formed in 1908 and had shadowed Sharland throughout the past 25 years, was appointed Engineer-in-Chief. The worst of the depression was passing and in 1935, the trust took on a new cadet engineer and by July, the 10 per cent reduction in wages and salaries ended. Work started up again and in 1936, the trust began receiving increasing numbers of applications for water supply and sewerage connections, mostly in established areas. Throughout the depression, commissioners barely changed and only illness and death removed them. Commissioner Gill died after a short illness and was replaced in 1935 by local lawyer Freeman, who had also been a Geelong City councillor.

1933-1943 - Bellarine scheme completed
In the midst of the Great Depression, the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission completed the Bellarine water supply scheme. The main supply pipeline to the Peninsula from Waurn Ponds Basin to Bellarine Basin was completed along with the reticulation of Queenscliff, Point Lonsdale, Ocean Grove and Barwon Heads. The supply pipelines for and reticulation mains for Drysdale and Portarlington were also completed and construction of the channels and service basins to serve Anglesea and Torquay was well advanced. Residents of Lara were making their voice heard again in 1933, seeking a permanent water supply scheme, but the breakout of war in subsequent years put the project on the backburner. Activity for the Geelong Waterworks and Sewerage Trust was at an all time low with no money for major projects despite a large number of unemployed men looking for work.

1932- Sewerage trouble during the depression
The trust was in a desperate situation amidst the full impact of the Great Depression in 1932. There was no money for new projects, therefore no work, and the trust was forced to put a “No Vacancies” sign on its door to deter large numbers of unemployed men inquiring after jobs every day. Employees who remained at the trust maintained the tradition of the annual picnic throughout the depression. In 1932, considered the worst year, more than 40 went to Torquay where there was a cricket match in the morning, sporting events in the afternoon and an official luncheon at the Palace Hotel with the trust Chairman. Corrosion of the sewer was still causing problems for the trust and in 1932, when corrosion was first noticed downstream of industrial areas. Changes in the effluent going down the pipe, and the sea water flowing up it was seen as the source of the problem. McKay’s system was designed purely for domestic use, which meant that the effluent was easily broken down by micro-organisms and the action of water. However, after the two special Barwon River sewerage areas were commissioned for industry along the river, a different form effluent went into the sewer containing compounds that reacted differently than domestic waste. The corrosion was attributed to the formation of hydrogen sulphide, which with water formed weak sulphuric acid that slowly corroded the concrete pipes. At high tide sea water flowed up into the sewer for about two miles and this also created corrosive conditions. The first approach to fixing the problem was to increase the air-flow through the sewer to reduce the creation of sulphuric acid. The trust also tried to chlorinate the sewage to reduce the chemical reactions causing the hydrogen sulphide but it proved unsuccessful. In the meantime, the sewer slowly began to dissolve.

1930 - 1931 - The Great Depression Begins
Unemployment was a serious issue for local community and to help alleviate the growing queue of men looking for work, in May 1930, the trust drew up a list of unemployment relief works worth about 130,000 pounds that could engage around 120 men for up to 10 weeks. These works, however were all new construction projects that had to be funded by borrowing, and trying to raise new loans was difficult. Retrenchments became a reality in the Ryrie Street office. In February 1931, staff told commissioners they were willing to accept reduced salaries for 12 months and the 10 per cent reductions started at the beginning of July. Commissioners also reduced their allowances 10 per cent. The ratepayers were also struggling with reduced wages in almost all sectors of the community, and unemployment at more than 20 per cent. For the trust, the number of unpaid bills rose from 221 in 1929, to 440 in 1930 and 661 in 1931. The trust had to make allowances and in September 1930, commissioners directed that burst mains were only to be repaired outside normal working hours in the most urgent circumstances to restrict overtime costs. However, the sewerage system was causing the most maintenance problems and it began seriously deteriorating due to the poor quality of some materials and conditions inside the pipes. Cracks had appeared early in the aqueduct, which was made of reinforced concrete. Most of the stresses and strains were carried by the steel reinforcing, which was protected from corrosion by the concrete around it. But, some of the concrete was cracking and lumps could fall off unexpectedly exposing the steel to the elements and corrosion. Further examination showed the quality of the concrete uneven, possibly due to poor workmanship.

1929 - First signs of trouble before the Great Depression
The trust had completed its major asset-building projects over the previous ten years and had no plans for large projects in the near future. This was a disaster for local men looking for employment as unemployment levels soared during 1929 from 8.6 per cent to 21.9 per cent. The trade unions were pleading with the trust to offer work to the estimated 400 men in Geelong looking for work, however up to 98 per cent of the buildings in the sewerage area had been connected. In April, the housing connection staff was reduced, the men who operated the emergency pumping station on the Barwon River were kept on as long as possible but laid off in June, and more sewerage works were dismissed in September. As funds, and projects dried up, the day labour gangs were dismissed and the men joined the increasing line mass of unemployed. The situation was deteriorating rapidly so in August, the trust approved an additional 2660 pounds for projects that would enable it to keep on many of the men as well as employ 10 more. Unemployment and severe wage cuts made it difficult for people to pay their bills. In 1929 the trust had 221 unpaid bills and many delayed paying their bills for as long as possible. However, only 25 were prosecuted. Meanwhile, the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission was busy building its Bellarine water supply scheme, one of the only sources of employment in the area. Trust commissioners visited the scheme in October the previous year, when water had just started flowing the newly constructed Wurdee Boluc Reservoir. By the end of 1928 the open channel from Wurdee Boluc to Waurn Ponds was completed and the peninsula system extended from there along a main to the Bellarine basin at Wallington. A pipe also too water from Wallington to a service basin overlooking Queenscliff, another in Ocean Grown and a wooden main extended from there to Barwon Heads where a concrete service tank was constructed.

1928 - Colac becomes the first regional Victorian town to be sewered
After much negotiating with the state government about loans and funding for the system, the first few residents in Colac connected to the sewerage system in 1928. Early in the year, ratepayers were sent a notice about house connections to the scheme advising of three methods by which they could become connected: The owner, after applying to the Sewerage Authority for a block plan, submits his own design and makes his own arrangements for carrying out the work; the authority designs the works, for the owner to have it carrier out; or, the authority designs the works, draws up specifications, calls tenders and has the work carried out.The third option was finally adopted and the authority set about raising a loan from the private banking sector to finance the house connections repayable by the property owners. A house connection clerk was appointed following a rush of applications to the authority’s proposed house connection scheme. It wasn’t long after the start of the sewerage construction that various types of problems were encountered. Disputes emerged between the authority and the commonwealth over approvals for trench digging on crown land, which delayed progress on the sewer.A problem also arose with what was described as “treacherous ground” along the Barongarook Creek, requiring the sewerage pipe to be carried in a concrete saddle supported by piles. Despite a number of complaints from local residents about their gardens being dug up for the connections, by June, 677 cisterns were in operation and the scheme had a further 1005 applicants.

1928 - Politics takes hold of the trust
In January 1928, it was looking likely the Geelong Waterworks and Sewerage Trust would need to take Ballarat up on its offer to supply water to the region as storage levels reached critical lows. However, in February it began to rain and Geelong had a record fall of 613 points in a week. Water began flowing into the storages, pumping out of the Barwon River stopped, water restrictions were eased and then lifted and commissioners wrote to their colleagues in Ballarat telling them their offer was no longer needed. By June, there was 435 million gallons in the storages, the pumping plant had been closed down and Chairman Hodges said: “The trust has successfully passed through a wonderful test.” However, the residents held a different view, accusing the trust of mishandling the water shortage crisis by not accepting Ballarat’s offer of water and placing too much reliance on the Barwon scheme. In September, nominations were called for the annual election of commissioners with the three sitting members, Hodges, Christopher and Wilton all standing for re-election. Chairman Hodges had been a commissioner for 21 years and no sitting commissioner had ever been defeated. The election was held on October 1, and when the polls closed, the boxes were taken into the trust office and counted. As many as 15,000 people waited for the results. Christopher and Hodges were defeated but Wilton held his seat. Hodges appeared at the front of the office and was applauded by the waiting crowd. He said he had given them his best service but the ratepayers had said they wanted change. He died in October 1930. Commissioner Doyle was elected Chairman after Hodges and tried to placate the people immediately by sending Engineer-in-Chief Sharland to Ballarat to accept the 300 million gallons offered during the drought. By December, the pumping station started again and the first water from Ballarat flowed on December 21.

1927 - Drought forces Barwon pumping
By early 1927, most of Victoria was experiencing a severe drought and water supplies were low everywhere. Const cartoon2

ruction of the new reservoir Bostock hadn’t gone ahead and there had been practically no rain over Geelong’s catchments for three and a half years. By October, the situation was so desperate commissioners adopted Sharland’s plan to erect an emergency pumping station, rising mains and chlorination plant on the banks of the Barwon River above Buckley Falls. A temporary barrier was erected on an old abandoned weir above the falls to retain as much water as possible for pumping. On November 17, Ballarat’s water commissioners offered Geelong 300 million gallons from their storages. It could be transferred to the Geelong system through the Bolwarra Weir and Ballan channel and the trust would have to cover the cost of arranging the transfer. Pumping from the Barwon River started on November 19, 1927, pumping water to the Montpellier basins. The water was chlorinated at the pumping station to kill bacteria and chemically dosed at Montpellier to remove impurities. There was a mild epidemic of stomach complaints, however, that may have been due to people ignoring warnings to boil the water before drinking it. The Ballarat offer was likely to cost 20,000 pounds to transfer it into the Geelong system and commissioners deferred the decision as long as possible.During 1927, The State Rivers and Water Supply Commission completed its report proposing to take water from the upper Barwon to supply the towns of Drysdale, Portarlington, Queenscliff, Point Lonsdale, Ocean Grove, Barwon Heads, Torquay and Anglesea with possible extensions to Winchelsea, Birregurra and Geelong.

A cartoon published in the Geelong press in November 1927 celebrating Ballarat's
generous offer to donate water to Geelong during severe drought shortages.

1926 - Water for the Bellarine Peninsula
A long dry spell began affecting most of Victoria in the mid-1920s with the Bellarine Peninsula hardest hit. The peninsula’s future development and the potential of its seaside towns as resorts depended on a secure water supply. A conference of municipal councils, progress associations and other groups held in January 1926 discussed two options: an extension of the Geelong supply network, or water from headworks on the Barwon River. The Geelong Waterworks and Sewerage Trust said it had too much to do to meet the demands of Geelong and it would be pointless undertaking investigations into supplying the Bellarine Peninsula. The State Rivers and Water Supply Commission was willing to investigate the Barwon River and at a second meeting in April 1926 tentatively proposed a scheme to use water from the upper reaches of the Barwon River to supply the peninsula.
The same year, the Geelong Waterworks and Sewerage Trust began mailing out rates notices as opposed to delivering them using rate collectors. An analyst was also appointed to test water quality for the trust.
Colac’s newly approved sewerage scheme was already proving to be problematic, before construction had even begun. Consulting engineer Edward Garlick had inspected systems in England, Germany and the United States and discussed the Colac plans with experts from those countries. The original estimate for the construction increased 14,000 pounds to more than 52,000 pounds for several reasons including rapid growth of the town from 1138 tenements when the report was compiled, to 1400. Consequently, the length of the sewers had to be extended and the diameter of the pipe had to be increase from nine inch to 12 inch. During this period the first talks were held about the amalgamation of the waterworks trust with the sewerage authority.

1924-1925 - New waterworks trust at Apollo Bay
On January 16, 1924, the Apollo Bay Waterworks Trust was officially constituted. The trust’s first meeting took place in Pengilley’s Hotel and Commissioner Wright was appointed first Chairman. Colac Waterworks Trust’s consulting engineer Mr Garlick was appointed as a consulting engineer to the Apollo Bay Waterworks Trust. One of the first projects managed by the trust was the construction of a weir at Anderson Creek to provide a water scheme for the population of 200, with a daily consumption of 60 gallons per head. Work on the house connections to the weir pipeline commenced as the reticulation spread through the town but construction hit a snag when stored cement started to deteriorate because of damp conditions. Work on the weir was finally completed early in July 1925, more than a year over schedule. It took 12 months to fill the weir and water restrictions had to be imposed less than two years later. By the mid-1920s, development of the Geelong Waterworks and Sewerage Trust’s service basins at Lovely Banks, Montpellier and Bell Post Hill had increased their combined capacity from 11 to 55 million gallons and mains had been laid to adequately serve Geelong. But by 1925, the city’s population had grown to more than 40,000 and it consumed 1004 million gallons of water annually. The new service basins and additional storages at Stony Creek could hold more than before, but they could not bring any more water into the system because they relied on the same catchments used since the completion of Korweinguboora in 1910. By 1925, the trust knew it had to develop new catchments if it was to meet growing demand and decided to construct another dam on the East Moorabool River. In July 1925, commissioners decided to proceed with a new reservoir of 1000 million gallons. They decided to name the new reservoir “Bostock” in honour of T E Bostock who had been instrumental in creating the waterworks trust.

1923 - Delays sewering Colac
Colac’s plans for a sewerage scheme hit a snag when strong advocates for sewerage trust, commissioners R Morrison, V Parkes and VM Pearson, were defeated in the 1922 elections. They were replaced by JG Johnstone, DC Dunoon and George Hay who publicly opposed the scheme. This meant consulting engineer Garlick’s scheme was put on the back burner yet again. Garlick’s system was designed to service 10,000 people, about double Colac’s population at the time, carrying waste through six inch diameter pipes, buried at a minimum depth of four feet. The two main sewers would discharge into a well located on the low land near the Barongarook Creek, where it would hold about five hours’ flow of sewerage. The waste would be delivered from the pumping station to treatment works located at Colac East next to the railway line. Garlick recommended a treatment method involving screening the raw sewerage with sedimentation and sludge digestion tanks. Commissioners for the scheme continued to push for its construction until a public meeting was convened in April 1923 calling for a poll of ratepayers. Despite commissioners supporting the scheme being ousted at previous publicly voted trust elections, the outcome of the poll was an overwhelming majority for implementing the sewerage system. The first meeting of the Colac Sewerage Authority took place shortly after with commissioner Stewart elected Chairman and the same trust commissioners serving on the authority.Meanwhile, the Geelong Waterworks and Sewerage Trust was in the midst of a major analysis of its water supply systems. It was also facing a dilemma when, in 1923, the first problems were noticed with concrete in the ovoid sewer aqueduct.

1922 - A solution for industrial waste
Engineer-in-Chief James Sharland’s plan for the new industrial sewerage scheme included two areas on the north side of the river, where industry had congregated. The first stretched from Princes Bridge to Latrobe Terrace and the second Latrobe Terrace to breakwater. Both would have a long main line to intercept the sewerage outlets of the industries and both would have a large underground pumping station to elevate the waste to the main sewer. Special Sewerage Area No 1 was ready to begin in April 1922 with 13 properties included in the system. Not all industries were connected immediately, but the trust said the new system would stop “deleterious and filthy matter” entering the beleaguered Barwon River. Residents immediately noticed a difference in the cleanliness and smell of the river soon after the system was implemented. Special Sewerage area No 2 was more difficult to construct due to more complex terrain. It was completed in March 1923 with 15 properties connected. The industries were expected to pay the full operating costs and also filter their waste before it went into the system. They soon began complaining about the high rates and the trust offered a reduction if they contributed toward the construction costs. But they would not agree to paying 20,000 pounds so the higher rates continued. Sewerage was also on the mind of the Colac Waterworks Trust and investigations were being made into a possible sewerage scheme in the town. In 1922, consulting engineer to the trust, a Mr E Garlick reported there were 1138 tenements in the Colac township’s actual population of 4500 for sewering. The amount of sewerage allowed for was 40 gallons per head per day over 12 hours. This was significantly more than the 30 gallons delivered into the sewers of the Geelong Waterworks and Sewerage Trust per head each day.

1920-1921 - Lorne gets its own trust
In the early 1920s, severe water shortages and water quality problems forced the budding township of Lorne to develop its own W oldlogo

aterworks Trust, taking the responsibility for water supply away from the Winchelsea Waterworks Trust. Some of the first correspondence for the new trust was an open letter from the community requesting the trust act immediately to improve water quality and supply. “Throughout the day we are afraid to light our bath heaters and coppers to have a bath or to do the family washing as we do not know when the water supply may go off without any notice whatsoever,” it said.
In 1921 the Geelong Waterworks and Sewerage Trust adopted a crest and motto in Latin to be used on its stationery, commissioners’ medallions and the common seal. The crest featured an image of Hygieia, the Goddess of Health, pictured with a serpent wrapped around her body, drinking from a cup. Commissioner JP McCabe Doyle chose the motto meaning from many suggestions: “Salus populi suprema lex esto”Let the health (or welfare) of the people be the first great law. Meanwhile, the summer of 1920/1921 was particularly warm and the river had never been worse. According to the City of Geelong in its letter to the Premier pleading for it to be cleaned up, “The smell is simply awful”. Many people were complaining that the breakwater stopped salt water flowing in to flush the river and held back the sludge from industry. Arguments about who was responsible for the breakwater ensued and eventually it was decided the best course of action would be to implement a sewerage system to collect the industrial waste.
The government gave its approval in April 1921 and work commenced almost immediately.

1918 - Colac introduces water meters
Chronic water shortages were plaguing the region’s water authorities. A combination of population growth and drought forced various water trust’s to implement restrictions and new strategies to curb water use. In the first two months of 1919, the Colac Waterworks Trust introduced the compulsory installation of water meters. Water pressures had to be reduced from 110 lbs per square inch to 80 lbs and supplies cut off to the town between 6pm and 8pm. Blowouts occurred along the pipeline, and water storage on one occasion was reduced by 730,000 gallons forcing the supply to be abandoned for as long as it took to fill the reservoirs. At the time, Colac consumers were using more water daily per head of population than most parts of Victoria. Rain eventually eased the situation but the water meters were there to stay. With Sharland now at the helm, the Geelong Waterworks and Sewerage Trust began establishing relationships with other organisations, both waterworks and otherwise. It sent delegates to the first Victorian Town Planning Conference in 1919 and the Chairman or a deputy began attending the annual sessions of the Waterworks Trusts’ Association. The trust was on good terms with Colac’s waterworks and sewerage authorities and provided them with information on some facets of its operations. The Colac Waterworks Trust also visited Geelong’s service basins at Lovely Banks and Montpellier during this time. While connecting houses to the new sewerage system was making progress, industry was still releasing its waste into the Barwon River. By 1918, the river was in a very bad way and stank. The Geelong Town Council met with the trust and suggested a sewer be constructed to collect the industrial waste. The trust was not keen as the land was very low and connection to the main sewer would involve costly pumping stations and the idea was temporarily shelved.

1917 - The focus returns to water supply
In June of 1917, the brains behind Geelong’s sewerage system, RT McKay resigned from the Geelong Waterworks and Sewerage Trust as sanitary engineer and the organisation was restructured. James Sharland, who played an integral part in securing the water supply role for the trust, was promoted from Secretary to Engineer in Chief. During his six years with the trust, McKay had overseen the design, construction and implementation of the sewerage system, and at the time of his resignation, more than 800 properties had sewerage connections.The sewerage system did what its original supporters and planners claimed – it improved the public health of Geelong residents. In 1917, when only a minor percentage of houses were sewered, the incidence of typhoid was noticeably lower than previous years. The same year, the trust introduced a deferred payment scheme for property owners to pay for sewerage connection. Connecting individual properties to the system was undertaken by plumbers using plans prepared by the trust. The cost depended on the distance between the sewer and the connection and could range from 20 pounds to more than 100 pounds. The deferred payment scheme paid for the connection and was repaid quarterly over 10 years. As soon as construction of the sewerage system finished, the trust turned its attention back to water supply. During 1917, the Stony Creek embankment was increased and embankments around another nearby swamp were raised to create the No 3 Storage. Sharland also began a six-year major analysis of the water supply system to guide its future development.
Water supply was also on the agenda for the Colac Waterworks Trust. Its existing No 1 service Basin was completed in 1911 as part of the Olangolah scheme and in 1917, a second basin was completed adjacent to the first basin with a storage capacity of 3.5 million gallons.

1915 – 1916 – Geelong gets sewered
1915 saw the completion of the cantilevers across the Barwon river for the sewerage aqueduct. Work on the central girders, footway and balustrades followed. By the end of June, the whole structure was almost complete. The system was scheduled for commissioning later in the year however the advent of World War I brought this forward to allow the large military encampment set up on the racecourse to be sewered.Work also started on installing the sewer reticulation piping on more areas of central Geelong, between Malop and McKillop, Bellarine and Yarra streets.The trust provided se house connection

wer reticulation past people’s properties, but did not connect them. That was the responsibility of property owners and governed by the sewerage by-laws approved in May 1915. Under them, the trust declared a part of the city ‘a sewerage area’ and everyone owning property in it was compelled to have their properties connected.The first official sewerage area had 243 properties notified in October, and by December 17, the second sewerage area was declared with more than 700 properties.The first connection to the sewerage system in Geelong occurred on January 26, 1916. Thirteen sewerage areas covering more than 1000 properties were declared in 1916 over the City of Geelong, Geelong West, Newtown and Chilwell. Plumbing inspectors carefully monitored the connections to ensure their safety and efficiency and by June, 38 miles of sewers had been laid and 90 places had been connected.More than 1000 men had worked on the project and while heavy machinery such as horses dragging scoops, ploughs and drays had been used, for the most part men with picks and shovels had done most of the hard work.

1914 – World War I delays progress
While the Geelong Municipal Waterworks Trust’s focus was squarely on the construction of the town’s first sewer system, there were other major projects put in place in previous years still ticking away in the background.In 1914, the Upper Stony Creek Storage No 2 was completed, significantly boosting water storage capacity. However, the lack of rainfall failed to fill the extra storage and by the end of the year, Geelong was back on water restrictions again.But work on the aqueduct was the main focus and, in early 1914, the first pier was completed allowing for construction of the first cantilever to begin.The largest of the ovoid sewer pipes were also completed during the year.Laying the sewer reticulation pipes across Geelong was presenting itself as a difficult task for the workers with many “obstacles” in the way such as fences, buildings, roads and gardens.Care was taken to disturb as little as possible and in many places it was limited by sinking shafts and then connecting them with tunnels.The first piping was completed in the centre of Geelong between Malop and McKillop Streets and Bellarine and Yarra Streets.World War I was proving a challenge to contractors Stone & Siddeley, who were struggling to find enough miners to complete the tunnels because many had enlisted to go to the war.With the prospect of the early stages of the sewerage system nearing completion, the trust employed its first plumbing inspector to monitor the safety and efficiency of the sewer connections.The newly formed Colac Waterworks Trust was also feeling the effects of water shortages in 1914. During the year it initiated action against water wasters and had some interesting offenders including the vicarage and the trust’s own surveyor, Mr G Cornthwaite. All offenders were ordered to have meters installed within 14 days. One offender, Mr McMahon, preferred to have his supply cut off and ordered a plumber to immediately cut his pipes, whilst the vicarage said it would be “almost sacrilege” to have a water meter installed on its grounds.

1913 - Construction begins on the aqueduct

Workers building the sewer system sinking shafts for contractors Stone & Siddeley went on strike in June 1913 calling for better pay. Negotiations had been dragging on for months and eventually a minor incident led to 175 men walking off the job.
The contractor replaced many of the strikers but had trouble finding miners to complete the tunnels. aqueduct

Nevertheless, by September work was starting on the third section of the main sewer – north of the abattoirs. Construction, however was severely affected by the outbreak of World War I and items such as concrete became particularly hard to come by. The final section was eventually completed in May 1915 despite the difficulties.
Stone & Siddeley also won the contract to build the aqueduct across the Barwon River valley and while they didn’t submit the lowest tender, the trust believed they would do the highest quality work.
Drawings and specifications were approved in February 1913 and temporary bridges were constructed across the river to allow men and materials to get to the work site. The tramway was also extended to reach the site.

The aqueduct was constructed on a series of piers supported by 80 reinforced concrete octagonal piles manufactured in the Marshalltown factory.
Another milestone for the trust in 1913 was the opening of its new Ryrie Street office building. The building was constructed in exactly the same location as Barwon Water’s current head office.

Construction of the Barwon River ovoid sewer aqueduct, circa 1913.

1912 - Ovoid sewer pipes

Construction of McKay’s sewerage scheme was well underway in 1913. Its core was a large main that would run from the outlet at Black Rock up to Geelong, through the ridge under the city and then follow the curve of Corio Bay up to North Geelong. Sewerage would be able flow under the influence of gravity, for the most part without any pumping.
Pipes for the main sewer had to be designed so water could flow efficiently under a wide range of conditions. The best shape was that of an egg standing on its narrow end, so they were called ovoid pipes. The system was almost entirely underground, laid in trenches and tunnels. Manholes were placed at regular intervals to allow access for clearing or inspection and ventilation shafts were constructed to ensure good air circulation.
The most significant part of the system was an aqueduct to be constructed across the Barwon River plain at Goat Island to carry the main sewer at the right level and inclination so the flow was maintained.
The planned aqueduct consisted of 12 spans, each one made of two cantilevers sitting on a central truss to balance the load, with the sewer pipe suspended in reinforced concrete hangars. It was to become one of the landmarks of Geelong.
The contractors built a pipe factory at Marshalltown Railway Station and a two-foot, six-inch gauge tramway from the factory across to the line along which the main sewer was to be constructed and then up and down that line. It carried pipes and other equipment out to the work site and carried back soil removed from the trenches and tunnels.

1912 - Ocean outfall
While reviewing all the previous sewerage reports, R T McKay discovered the Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works had investigated disposing its sewage straight into the ocean at Black Rock, midway between Torquay and Barwon Heads. It was an appealing option because, although construction of a sewerage main from Geelong to the coast would be challenging and expensive, it would not cost much to operate compared to other options. The ocean currents were tested off Black Rock to ensure waste from an outfall sewer would not be washed back to land. McKay’s report to the trust, delivered on October 18, 1911, recommended an ocean outfall at Black Rock. The report said three ocean outfalls operated successfully in New South Wales and “nothing of an objectionable nature is to be found on the beaches”. After lengthy deliberation the commissioners agreed to accept McKay’s plan. It would cost an estimated ₤285,992 and ₤15,358 to operate. The details were made public and the only protest was that it would cost about ₤50,000 more than a septic tank or sewerage farm option. The Geelong Times commented that the average ratepayer would “cheerfully make a small sacrifice to secure a system which will be free from the slightest offensiveness”. The trust issued a formal notice it would proceed with the sewerage scheme on January 26, 1912, and the government and Public Health Department gave approval.

1910 - Selecting a sewerage solution
The new trust, now responsible for sewerage as well as water, shifted its focus to deciding how to sewer Geelong. Sharland gathered as much information as possible about sewerage systems and commissioners visited Sydney, Adelaide and the Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works’ sewerage farm at Werribee. The trust was leaning towards a sewerage farm system but was unwilling to make a final decision without more expert opinion. In 1910, commissioners contracted Chad Oliver of the Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works to report on the feasibility of establishing a sewerage farm near Point Henry, east of Geelong. His report in January 1911, said a farm was feasible but did not categorically recommend it. The commissioners decided to defer the decision until they had appointed a sewerage engineer to oversee the project. In December 1910, commissioners decided to advertise throughout Australia and New Zealand for a sanitary engineer, offering the handsome salary of ₤1000 a year to ensure an engineer of the highest caliber. R T McKay, of the Public Works Department in Sydney, was the final selection. McKay was not keen on sewerage farms and quickly discovered it would not be possible to dispose of treated effluent in the Barwon River because it was too small and slow to meet accepted standards. He decided an ocean outfall was the most favourable solution.

1909 - Sewering Geelong
Disease, and the fear of it, was a fact of daily life in Geelong’s early days. Typhoid fever was among the most feared diseases. It was easily caught in the unsanitary urban environment and there were many other intestinal infections that could kill. Such diseases could be controlled by public cleanliness and a good supply of water and sanitation, so public health began to improve in Geelong with the arrival of the water supply scheme. The sanitation service provided by local government was relatively simply and cheap to start, requiring little infrastructure. A sewerage system, however, was a massive and costly undertaking that could easily go wrong if the people who designed and built it made even a simple mistake. While the advantages were obvious, so were the costs and dangers and the decision to construct a sewerage system was not taken lightly. In February 1906, the Mayor of Geelong, T E Bostock, called a meeting to discuss a unified sanitation system for the town. Over the next three years, numerous schemes were proposed and studies carried out into the viability of a sewerage system. When the government became involved in the proposal, the Premier insisted that sewerage should be placed under the control of the newly created Geelong Municipal Waterworks Trust. The Geelong Waterworks and Sewerage Act 1909, became law on January 4, 1910.

1909 - When it rains, it pours
Despite putting residents on water restrictions, and promoting water saving messages in late 1908, water storage levels were again critically low in early 1909.
The trust put restrictions back in place prohibiting street watering and restricting garden watering, however by the end of March, reserves were down to approximately 105 million gallons (23 megalitres) and by May 12, only 63 million gallons (13 megalitres) remained.
Once again the storages were saved by tumultuous rain and were raised up to 83 million gallons (18 megalitres) just two weeks later. By mid-June they were up to 237 million gallons (52 megalitres).
Storage levels reached their peak in October at 631 million gallons (138 megalitres) and street watering resumed with the onset of drier conditions, with up to 100 loads a day sprayed on the streets of Geelong to keep the dust down.
The first tender for clearing the 400 acres of land for the new reservoir at Korweinguboora was awarded in April, 1909, and a dam design was approved at the end of July, and while the trust was preoccupied with this large infrastructure project, the rest of the town was arguing about a possible sewerage scheme.
Local councils held meetings on the topic and debated each other in the press and the Geelong sewerage Bill gradually made its way through parliament. While the trust supported the idea of sewerage, it was well aware of the demands the system would have on its water supplies.
During the same era, Colac was rapidly developing its own municipality and on November 10, 1909, the Colac Waterworks Trust was constituted.
The trust immediately set about designing and implementing the Olangolah water supply scheme to serve Colac.

1908 - Old pipes, new reservoirs and water restrictions
In its first year of operation, the trust had to deal with the growing problem of maintaining and improving existing assets, which were beginning to show their age as many pipes were installed in the 1870s.
Old pipes were becoming encrusted on the inside, causing flow restriction and a loss of water pressure. The trust began pipe scraping in the middle of the year and by November, four miles of pipe mains had been cleaned.
pipe cleaner

In July 1908, the trust’s secretary, James Sharland, rejected the possibility of a new reservoir on the Werribee River at Ballanee, outside the traditional Geelong catchment area, and instead called for the Upper Stony Creek Reservoir embankment to be raised.
Later that year, the trust also gave its approval for a new reservoir to be constructed north of Ballan at Korweinguboora.
By October, storages were down to 196 million gallons (43 megalitres), or six months’ supply and water restrictions were introduced prohibiting the watering of gardens and roads, which was normally done daily to keep the dust at bay and clean away horse manure. The trust employed two inspectors to enforce the restrictions, however heavy rains replenished supplies and the restrictions were lifted just two weeks later.
The trust did retain the services of one inspector to promote the message of water conservation as during their two weeks of monitoring, they reported many cases of water wastage.
A pipe scraper, which was pulled through pipes to clean off the incrustations that built up inside cast iron pipes, gradually blocking them and reducing the water flow.

1908 - Conservation, Observation & Preservation
Conservation of the land surrounding its assets occupied the Geelong Municipal Waterworks Trust from its first meetings in 1908.
The weir on the East Moorabool River at Bolwarra was vital to Geelong’s supply, however the trust only had control over a minor parcel of land surrounding it.
The government had given responsibility of the rest of the land to the Forestry Department, which was using it for growing timber. The catchment area however, also included a small township, grazing land and gold mining parcels, so with the help of a report on watershed protection written by the Gordon Institute, the trust was able to secure control over 650 acres in the East Moorabool catchment at the end of 1908.
The trust already had a large catchment area at Stony Creek and wanted to make it profitable as well as improve the quality of water.
Four years earlier, the government had planted several thousand pine trees and in 1908, the trust spent a further £100 planting another 5000.
In 1908, the trust responded to a request from farmers below the Bolwarra weir to release water because the Moorabool River downstream was dry.
The trust also played a vital role in the region’s planning and during the year, commissioners refused an application to develop the Barwon downs area on the grounds the land should be retained as a future water supply for the district.

1908 - Meetings and metering
There were five commissioners present at the first official meeting of the Geelong Municipal Waterworks Trust on January 25, 1908.
Isaac Hodges and John Doyle represented the City of Geelong, Hugh Sutherland represented the shires of Bellarine, Corio and South Barwon, Henry Brown represented the Borough of Newtown and Chilwell, and Henry Christopher represented the Borough of Geelong West. Commissioner Hodges was elected Chairman.
Commissioners began holding regular meetings on the last Friday of every month and the trust's first major decision was to appoint the former secretary of the Geelong Water Supply Committee, James Sharland, as engineer, secretary and treasurer of the trust.
The trust remained in the existing waterworks office in the Post Office building for most of the year and later relocated to the old Post Office in Ryrie Street.
Commissioners set the trust’s first water rates in August, 1908 based on municipal property valuations but this system proved inadequate and by the end of the year, the trust had installed 1354 water meters at various locations around the town.
In 1908, Geelong used 416 million gallons (almost 100 megalitres) of water, approximately 27 per cent of which was charged on the basis of meter readings.
Commissioners quickly decided to extend meter use, particularly to users who traditionally had been given water free or at reduced charges. Charities, the hospital, schools, businesses and most houses with gardens were fitted with meters by the end of the year. And, while the hospital wasn’t charged for its water use, the trust now had an idea of exactly how much water the institution was using.

1840-1908 - Geelong gets its own water authority
Water supply systems have been present in the Geelong region as early as1840 in the form of a dam in the Barwon River, now known as ‘Breakwater’, and a well in the middle of Market Square, where you could buy two buckets of water for sixpence. In 1849, plucky store owner and miller William Gray gained approval to erect a system to pump water to a tank at the top of Moorabool Street, then gravity feed it to the well in Market Square, and later to a tank at Malop Street. A more permanent, reticulated water system in the form of the brick race

Stony Creek Reservoir and open channels to the Anakie pipe head basin was constructed from 1866, but was plagued with problems soon after it opened in the early 1870s.
In 1887, the then Minister for Water Supply, Alfred Deakin, admitted Geelong’s water system was inadequate and suggested if Geelong wanted an improved system, it should form its own trust.
A Geelong Water Supply Committee was established in 1905 with representatives from local councils, and James Sharland, the town’s surveyor, was appointed secretary. In 1906, the committee set out to buy the existing system from the government and an agreement was made with the Minister for Water to purchase the system, and its assets including Stony Creek and the Anakie pipe head basin, for £265,000.
The Geelong Municipal Waterworks Trust began on August 13, 1907 and commissioners from the local councils were appointed to preside over the trust.
On January 25, 1908 the first official meeting of the Geelong Municipal Waterworks Trust took place in the old Post Office marking the official start of a local water authority in the Geelong region.

The brick race, part of the open channel bringing water from the Stony Creek Reservoir to the pipe head at Anakie (circa 1870).

(Sources: Living by Water, Leigh Edmonds, River to Coast, RJ McCormick, A Century of Water Supply to Lorne, RJ McCormick, A Trust in Water, RJ McCormick.)