Energy Australia Yallourn Returned Water Licence application

Returned water is water taken under a Section 51 licence that is put back into the same groundwater area (for groundwater) or water system (for surface water), generally via works, in accordance with the conditions on that Section 51 licence. Any works to return water may be licenced under Section 67.

Returned water licensing allows Southern Rural Water, as the Minister’s delegate, to issue a Section 51 licence to take water from a system and return some, or all, of that water either immediately, or within the same water season. The water season is defined under the Water Act as any period of 12 calendar months beginning on 1 July and ending on 30 June in the following year.

Water will be pumped directly from the take location to the return location via enclosed pipelines with no opportunity for evaporation, seepage or water loss.

Energy Australia Yallourn has the appliable Environment Protection Authority (EPA) licences in place for surface water discharge, which includes regular water quality testing and approved discharge locations.

The infrastructure will be monitored during each test to ensure intended functionality is maintained. Pump operation will cease upon identification of actual or potential issues that will impact return of water in accordance with the application, with subsequent repairs conducted.

Water will be taken from the Morwell River via 16 submersible pumps (Xylem 560kW, 415V, 920RPM) installed at a cofferdam south of the Morwell River diversion channel.

The configuration of the pump installation allows for 100% of river flows to travel through the Morwell River diversion channel. Also, for flows to be diverted to the pumps by closing valves on three pipes that sit on the floor of the river channel and allow flows through the installed cofferdam.

The water diverted to the pumps will be pumped into 16 separate pipes, which connect to two manifolds. Then pumped to two 1,600mm diameter poly welded pipelines that run along the east and west banks of the Morwell River diversion, which then discharge the water into the Latrobe River.

Upon cessation of the pump testing, the valves on the three pipes that run through the cofferdam will be opened, restoring natural river flows via the river channel.

Two ultrasonic flow meters are installed, with one flow meter on each of the 1,600mm diameter pipes. Through these, the total volume of take water will pass before being returned to the river system.

Yes. Anyone whose interests may be affected by the decision can apply to the Victorian Civil and Administration Tribunal for a review of Southern Rural Water’s decision. An application for review must be made to the Victorian Civil and Administration Tribunal, in writing, within 28 days of the decision being made.

Applicants often contact us before they submit formal applications and we provide them with guidance on the process, our duties under the Water Act 1989, what’s required of them and indicative timelines, so expectations are clear and there are no surprises. This is known as the pre-application stage.

Once we receive an application and the assessment fee, we will complete an initial review to ensure an applicant has correctly completed the form and submitted all the required information for Southern Rural Water for the application to proceed.

When we’ve deemed the applicant has provided all relevant technical information, we’ll then advertise the application. We’ll then refer the application to other local agencies and government departments, and invite stakeholders and the community to provide a submission in response to the application.

The community and agencies have a minimum of 28 days to provide a submission. In this case, Southern Rural Water will then thoroughly review and consider all the application information, including the submissions before deciding on the application.

When we issue a decision outcome, it will include a statement of reasons about our decision, including any associated licence conditions.

No matter what we decide, anyone whose interests may be affected by the decision can lodge an appeal to VCAT within 28 days of the decision being made.

At a base level, an applicant must provide the volume of water they are applying for, the water source, details of the land on which they plan to take and use the water. Together with proof of ownership, details of the intended use of water, including application rates. Also, together with works details such as location, depth and diameter/size of bores, pipes and/or pumps.

With a Returned Water Licence application, the applicant is also required to complete a checklist from the Returned Water Licensing Guidelines, which details estimated take and return volumes, infrastructure, any treatment proposals, water balance, metering, estimates of losses and timing of both take and return.

Under the Water Act 1989, Southern Rural Water is required to refer the application to relevant agencies with an interest in specific aspects of the application, ranging from water quality, catchment and riparian health to community and cultural interests.

The referral agencies for this application are: The Environment Protection Authority, the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority, Earth Resources Regulation, Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation, Wellington Shire Council, Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action, and Gippsland Water.