Wannon Water Managing Director Grant Green said “As at mid-February, 76 per cent of the pipeline has been constructed and is on track to be completed ahead of the original June 2010 timeframe.”

The remaining pipe work to be completed includes short sections in the Claude Austin State Forest and in private property between the Glendinning and Yarramyljup Roads, plus connection into the existing Hamilton pipeline on the Dunkeld-Cavendish Road.

Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) is being used to accommodate environmental challenges and to install the pipeline under waterways. The project includes over 29 bores undertaken by Padbury Amber Civil Contractors and SJM Directional Drilling.

Despite the speedy progress so far, construction is now expected to decelerate due to varying ground conditions.

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“With the construction contractor encountering some very hard rock in the Claude Austin State Forest, recent progress has significantly slowed,” Mr Green said.

“The last sections of the pipeline are expected to take some time to complete, with some redesign work required to overcome the hard rock being encountered,” he said.

Upon completion, the 52 kilometre, 375 mm diameter pipeline will supply up to 2,000 megalitres of water annually from Rocklands Reservoir, securing the Hamilton region’s future water needs.

For more information about the Hamilton-Grampians Pipeline, click here.