Sugarloaf Interconnector Pipeline
Project Proponent: Melbourne Water
On this page:
- Environmental Management Framework
- Development Corridor Plans
- Environmental Management Plans
- Project History
- Project Description
- Further Information
The Governor-in-Council has granted approval for an Order under section 16 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987, which exempts the project from the requirements of the Murrindindi, Yarra Ranges and Nillumbik Planning Schemes, subject to a number of conditions.
The conditions of approval are attached here:
Sugarloaf Conditions of Approval (PDF - 19 KB)Environmental Management Framework
Melbourne Water has prepared an overarching Environmental Management Framework (EMF) which will guide the development of the section-based EMPs. This was endorsed by the Minister on 12 September 2008. The EMF contains the Offset Management Strategy for native vegetation removal, which has been approved by the Minister for Environment and Climate Change.
Environmental Management Framework with Attachments 1-5 (PDF - 855 KB) EMF Attachment 6 (Offset Management Strategy) (PDF - 5.5 MB) EMF Attachment 7 (Fauna species) (PDF - 2.9 MB) EMF Attachment 8 (Flora species) (PDF - 1.7 MB) EMF Attachment 9 (Aquatic species) (PDF - 3.4 MB) EMF Attachment 10 (Risk assessment procedure) (PDF - 2.6 MB)Development Corridor Plans
On 6 August 2008, the Minister for Planning approved 'development plans' for a broad pipeline corridor within which the Sugarloaf Pipeline will be constructed. At the request of Melbourne Water, the Minister has since amended particular sections of the corridor.
Current development corridor plans are attached below, in order from north to south.
 Map | Date Approved / Amended |
| Map 1 (PDF - 221 KB) | 11 December 2008 |
| Map 2 (PDF - 389 KB) | 3 June 2009 |
| Map 3 (PDF - 398 KB) | 3 June 2009 |
| Map 4 (PDF - 226 KB) | 11 December 2008 |
| Map 5 (PDF - 226 KB) | 23 December 2008 |
| Map 6 (PDF - 65 KB) | 25 February 2009 |
| Map 7 (PDF - 194 KB) | 11 December 2008 |
| Map 8 (PDF - 212 KB) | 11 December 2008 |
| Map 9 (PDF - 208 KB) | 12 September 2008 |
| Map 10 (PDF - 61 KB) | 25 February 2009 |
| Map 11 (PDF - 352 KB) | 3 June 2009 |
| Map 12 (PDF - 186 KB) | 11 December 2008 |
| Map 13 (PDF - 225 KB) | 11 December 2008 |
| Map 14 (PDF - 388 KB) | 4 May 2009 |
| Map 15 (PDF - 438 KB) | 4 May 2009 |
| Map 16 (PDF - 439 KB) | 4 May 2009 |
| Map 17 (PDF - 210 KB) | 23 December 2008 |
| Map 18 (PDF - 415 KB) | 4 May 2009 |
| Map 19 (PDF - 437 KB) | 4 May 2009 |
| Map 20 (PDF - 214 KB) | 23 December 2008 |
| Map 21 (PDF - 209 KB) | 20 October 2008 |
Environmental Management Plans
The actual alignment of the pipeline construction area (or easement) within the approved corridor will be defined on a section by section basis, following further technical investigations and landowner consultation by Melbourne Water and its Alliance partners. The alignment will be detailed in Environmental Management Plans (EMPs) to be prepared for each pipeline section. An expert Peer Reviewer has been appointed by DPCD to provide advice on the suitability each EMP.
The following EMPs have now been endorsed by a delegate for the Minister for Planning, enabling works to start in these sections.
| Pipeline Section | Date Endorsed | Peer Review Statement |
| Glenburn | 17 September 2008 | Peer Review Statement Glenburn Section (PDF - 399 KB) |
| Sugarloaf Reservoir Pipe Inlet Work | 25 September 2008 | Peer Review Statement Sugarloaf Reservoir Pipe Inlet (PDF - 387 KB) |
| Sugarloaf Reservoir Pipe Storage Area | 21 October 2008 | N/A |
| Tunnel Portals (Toolangi State Forest) | 21 November 2008 | Peer Review Statement Tunnel Portals (PDF - 460 KB) |
| Goulburn River Temporary Access | 21 November 2008 | N/A |
| Yarra Ranges Pipe Storage Area | 5 December 2008 | N/A |
| Toolangi State Forest | 12 December 2008 | Peer Review Statement Toolangi State Forest (PDF - 592 KB) |
| Goulburn River Pump Station | 12 December 2008 | Peer Review Statement Goulburn River Pump Station (PDF - 422 KB) |
| Sugarloaf Reservoir | 21 January 2009 | Peer Review Statement Sugarloaf Reservoir (PDF - 370 KB) |
| Killingworth | 21 January 2009 | Peer Review Statement Killingworth (PDF - 420 KB) |
Environmental Management Plans for other sections of the works are expected to be finalised by Melbourne Water in the coming weeks.
Endorsed EMPs can be viewed or downloaded from Melbourne Water's website. Alternatively, EMPs are available for public inspection at Melbourne Water's offices at 100 Wellington Parade, East Melbourne. Please phone 131 722 to arrange access.
Project History
On 21 December 2007 the Minister for Planning determined that an EES was not required for the proposed Sugarloaf Interconnector Pipeline Project. This decision was subject to a number of conditions; including the preparation of Project Impact Assessment (PIA) Report, exhibition of this report for public comment, and review of the report and public submissions by an expert advisory committee.
Read the Minister for Planning’s reasons for decision:
Sugarloaf Pipeline - Minister's Decision (PDF - 25 KB)The Sugarloaf Alliance (Melbourne Water, SKM. GHD and John Holland Group) prepared the PIA Report, and this was placed on exhibition for public comment from 19 February 2008 until 18 March 2008.
The Minister for Planning appointed an Advisory Committee under the Planning and Environment Act 1987 to consider the PIA documentation and public submissions and investigate and provide advice in relation to the environmental impacts of the Sugarloaf Interconnector Pipeline Project. Information about the appointment of the Advisory Committee and their Terms of Reference are included here:
Sugarloaf Pipeline Advisory Committee Information (PDF - 162 KB) Terms of Reference for Sugarloaf Pipeline Interconnector Project (PDF - 1.8 MB) Attachment 1 - Route sections A to H (PDF - 2.2 MB)The Advisory Committee held public hearings on various days between 2 and 17 April. A copy of the timetable and a final list of the documents presented during the hearings is available here:
Sugarloaf Timetable Version 3 (PDF - 197 KB) Sugarloaf Document List - Final Version (PDF - 176 KB)The Advisory Committee provided its report to the Minister on 16 May 2008. Following his decision on the project, the Minister publicly released the Advisory Committee’s report on 6 August 2008. The report, together with the Minister’s response to each of the Committee’s recommendations, is attached below.
Sugarloaf Interconnector Pipeline AC Report - Body (PDF - 1.1 MB) Sugarloaf Interconnector Pipeline AC Report - Appendices (PDF - 1.8 MB) Minister's response to recommendations (PDF - 108 KB)Project Description
The Sugarloaf Interconnector Pipeline Project is a key piece of infrastructure in the Victorian Government's Water Plan. The 70km pipeline will transfer Melbourne’s share of water savings – capped at 75 billion litres of water each year – from the 225 billion litres of water each year to be achieved through the Food Bowl Modernisation Project. The pipeline will extend from the Goulburn River north of Yea to the Sugarloaf Reservoir in the Yarra Ranges.
Further Information
- Questions about the project should be directed to Melbourne Water on 1800 453 753
- Questions about the Advisory Committee process should be directed to Planning Panels Victoria on (03) 9637 9692
- For all other enquiries, please contact Information Victoria on 1300 366 356
Please note: Document(s) on this page are presented in PDF format. If you do not have the Adobe Reader, you can download a copy free from the Adobe web site.