Heritage Victoria advertising aqueduct plan

23 May 2020

Heritage Victoria is advertising Barwon Water’s revised application to address the critical safety need to remove spans of the historic aqueduct in Breakwater.

The public can now make written submissions to the Executive Director, Heritage Victoria.

Heritage Victoria requested more information after Barwon Water submitted its proposal in early March.

Heritage Victoria’s request for information asked for further investigation into options including retention of piers and pads from the piers, further explanation around budget limitations, and some technical detail.

In responding to that request, Barwon Water refined its application to reduce the number of spans it is seeking to remove from five to four.

Barwon Water managing director Tracey Slatter said the application sought the right balance between the critical safety need to remove spans, safe public access to enjoy the river and 66-hectares of surrounding land, the heritage values of the aqueduct and the cost of any work so customer bills remained affordable.

“The refinement of the application will still allow safe public access on river and on land, and retain more of the historic structure within what will become public open space that will be valued for its Indigenous and European cultural, historical and recreational values into the future.”

Ms Slatter said she understood that Barwon Water’s application had renewed community interest in the structure but urged people to put safety first and not approach the structure itself.

“It is critical for everyone’s safety that they observe the signs and fences instructing them not to pass under the aqueduct along the river or land.

“The structure can shed large pieces of concrete at any time, which poses a critical safety risk to people due to the falling debris.”

The submission period is open for four weeks, until Friday 19 June 2020, and is being advertised via public notices in local papers and on the Heritage Victoria website.

Update: the submission period is now closed.