The government has released a discussion paper on managing water for the future, Water for Victoria. It proposes to improve connectivity through a water grid and also proposes expansion of the water market, starting with a in southern Victoria. We can build upon this by improving the connectivity and governance of water infrastructure. We can also consider a more sophisticated water market that incorporates every type of water use. This market would price water to move it to highest value uses, however, it may also result in significant equity challenges. For example, under an extreme climate change scenario with frequent record-breaking droughts, spatially dispersed household water use may not be able to compete with high-value agriculture water use. Getting the market design right would be essential. Over time, if Victoria’s population increases significantly, the agricultural sector continues to prosper and dry conditions persist, improved connectivity in our water network may increase efficiency but have a limited impact on overall water supply security. Under this scenario increasing the use of non-rainfall dependant water sources appears more attractive. Examples of these water sources are recycled treated wastewater and desalinated sea water. As we consider a range of options to improve water security, we should consider how well various options or combinations of options allow us to adapt to future population growth and climate change scenarios. 15. MANAGE PRESSURES ON LANDFILL AND WASTE RECOVERY FACILITIES Despite increasing rates of recycling across Victoria, growth in population and industries will mean more waste. Current trends indicate that total waste generation could almost double over the next 30 years, placing pressures on landfills and resource recovery centres. How waste is minimised and managed will be a continuing challenge for the state, particularly in the medium to long term. The options to meet this need seek to take a more sustainable approach to through changes to behaviour, rather than providing new landfill sites. Our preliminary assessment of the contribution rating to address this need has considered the extent to which the option would: reduce the gap between the forecast amount of waste to be generated and the number of sites, which can process or store it. Of the 8 that we have considered, 4 have undergone our assessment process and are presented below.
The government has released a discussion paper on managing water for the future, Water for Victoria. It proposes to improve connectivity through a water grid and also proposes expansion of the water market, starting with a in southern Victoria. We can build upon this by improving the connectivity and governance of water infrastructure. We can also consider a more sophisticated water market that incorporates every type of water use. This market would price water to move it to highest value uses, however, it may also result in significant equity challenges. For example, under an extreme climate change scenario with frequent record-breaking droughts, spatially dispersed household water use may not be able to compete with high-value agriculture water use. Getting the market design right would be essential. Over time, if Victoria’s population increases significantly, the agricultural sector continues to prosper and dry conditions persist, improved connectivity in our water network may increase efficiency but have a limited impact on overall water supply security. Under this scenario increasing the use of non-rainfall dependant water sources appears more attractive. Examples of these water sources are recycled treated wastewater and desalinated sea water. As we consider a range of options to improve water security, we should consider how well various options or combinations of options allow us to adapt to future population growth and climate change scenarios. 15. MANAGE PRESSURES ON LANDFILL AND WASTE RECOVERY FACILITIES Despite increasing rates of recycling across Victoria, growth in population and industries will mean more waste. Current trends indicate that total waste generation could almost double over the next 30 years, placing pressures on landfills and resource recovery centres. How waste is minimised and managed will be a continuing challenge for the state, particularly in the medium to long term. The options to meet this need seek to take a more sustainable approach to through changes to behaviour, rather than providing new landfill sites. Our preliminary assessment of the contribution rating to address this need has considered the extent to which the option would: reduce the gap between the forecast amount of waste to be generated and the number of sites, which can process or store it. Of the 8 that we have considered, 4 have undergone our assessment process and are presented below.