Mt Buller launches world-first water recycling project Mt Buller has officially launched its $3.43 million water reuse project, which will see it be the first in the  world to use recycled water for snowmaking. Minister for Water, the Environment, and Climate Change, the Hon. John Thwaites unveiled the project on opening weekend, marking the end of a two-year planning and construction period. Despite being interrupted by bushfires, The ARMB managed to complete construction of its water reuse project ahead of schedule. It will now go through a period of testing to ensure that water being output from the plant is of Class A quality and suitable for snowmaking. This project is a great achievement that will allow Mt Buller to increase its snow making capacity by up to 30 per cent, resulting in more reliable run coverage for visitors, a lengthier ski season for the Resort, and an all-round healthy and sustainable winter tourism industry. The new development is based at the Resort’s existing Sewerage Treatment Plant located in the south-east corner of the Mt Buller Village. The recycled water will be carried from the plant to the Resort’s Sun Valley Reservoir snowmaking dam via a 2.5km pipeline, where it will then be used to produce man-made snow. The project is being jointly funded by the Mt Buller and Mt Stirling Alpine Resort Management Board and the Victorian Water Trust. The Government established the Victorian Water Trust to fund major, innovative projects that help set a new direction for water use in Victoria. The Victorian Water Trust has invested $1 million in the scheme and Mt Buller and Mt Stirling Alpine Resort Management Board is contributing $2.43 million. Not only will the project deliver significant benefits for the resort in terms of mitigating the effects of climate change and securing a sustainable snow season and economy, it will also result in a number of key environmental benefits. The project will improve the quality and reduce the volume of the treated effluent that is discharged into the Howqua River and reduce the demand on local water courses for snow making. It will also ensure that up to 80 per cent of the Village’s wastewater is recycled.  The new development will use a disinfection system of UV irradiation, chlorination and ultrafiltration to purify the waste water and recycle up to 2 million litres of Class A water a day. The disinfection process that forms a part of the new water recycling infrastructure is similar to that currently being used for the Resort’s drinking water, ensuring that it is some of the cleanest water in the region. When the water finally reaches the slopes in the form of snow, it will look the same as it always has in terms of colour and texture. Skiers, snowboarders and snow players won’t be able to tell the difference! |