Kaitlyn Clapp with Rex, Goulburn Valley Water's 10-year-old farm dog. Kaitlyn joined GV Water in 2021, with her passion for animals and agriculture at the core of her work. She hopes to pursue a Diploma in Agriculture in the next five years.
Goulburn Valley Water has expanded the use of recycled water to transform its Shepparton Wastewater Management Facility into a multi-faceted agricultural operation.
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Located just west of Shepparton, the Daldy Rd property spans 1000 hectares and has evolved from what was once an area of eucalyptus trees and grazing sheep into highly productive irrigated farmland.
Goulburn Valley Water managing director Steve Capewell said farm managers and operators had a clear objective in transforming the property — to reuse treated wastewater in a sustainable, productive and community-supporting way.
“We have recently completed a tree clearing project with the intention to redevelop the cleared land for irrigated pasture and lucerne production,” Steve said.
“This will enable more effective use of treated wastewater.
“The trees no longer use wastewater effectively, which made this decision strategic in nature. It will also allow us to continue to diversify our farming operation.”
The farming operation has been running since 1988 and now employs seven full-time and three casual staff, who manage the livestock, crops, irrigation and land improvements.
A 58ha maize crop grown using recycled water at Goulburn Valley Water's wastewater treatment facility.
Despite appearances, no major changes have occurred recently in terms of livestock type or farming model, but the farm continues to adapt.
Though many locals assume dairy cattle have been introduced, Goulburn Valley Water confirms this isn’t the case and that no dairy operation had commenced, or was under consideration.
Alongside the livestock, the property is home to a range of crops including wheat, barley, canola, maize and sorghum, demonstrating the versatility of the land and the potential of irrigated farming in the region.
Around 155 hectares of the property are occupied by wastewater treatment lagoons — 19 in total. These lagoons manage and treat about 6500 megalitres of wastewater annually.
On average, about 2500 Ml of treated wastewater is reused to irrigate the farm’s pastures and crops, however, not all land on the site is irrigated using treated water.
Kaitlyn Clapp is responsible for overseeing livestock care, ensuring they have adequate food, water, and shelter, while also playing an integral part in seasonal activities such as lambing and lamb marking.
The facility is not just designed for internal reuse, but also to support the broader agricultural community.
Excess treated wastewater, beyond what is needed for the on-site farm, is treated to a higher standard and then safely discharged into the Goulburn River in accordance with EPA regulations.
In addition, Goulburn Valley Water has established a third-party reuse agreement, allowing treated water to be used on nearby farms.
During recent dry seasons, Goulburn Valley Water has also explored broader opportunities to assist neighbouring properties.
This included an Expression of Interest process in 2023 to gauge demand for third-party reuse among surrounding landholders.
The evolution of the Daldy Rd property illustrates how regional utilities can manage wastewater in an environmentally responsible way while contributing to the local economy.
Through strategic land use, careful planning, and collaboration with the farming community, Goulburn Valley Water continues to turn treated wastewater into a valuable agricultural resource.
Trees have made way for more efficient uses for treated wastewater. After clearing its old plantations, Goulburn Valley Water gave timber to Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority to protect river banks from erosion.
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