Landowners
The Sugarloaf Pipeline crosses about 123 properties along its 70km route from Yea to the Sugarloaf Reservoir. Melbourne Water is currently acquiring an easement on all private land along the length of the Sugarloaf Pipeline. This easement is generally 15 metres in width. The easement is to protect the Sugarloaf Pipeline and to enable Melbourne Water access to inspect and maintain the pipeline.
Generally, an easement should not impact landowners on a day-to-day basis. However, there are some considerations landowners must be conscious of before making any improvements to the land within the easement. The Sugarloaf Pipeline Alliance has created the ’Living with an Easement’ fact sheet to guide affected landowners. The fact sheet provides landowners with straightforward advice about their rights and those rights afforded to Melbourne Water. It also provides guidance about planting trees, building structures, cultivating etc in the easement.
Construction
During construction, a 30-metre easement (approximately) was required. The Sugarloaf Pipeline was generally laid 800mm underground, particularly on privately-owned land. Where it crosses roads and waterways, it was buried deeper.
Accessing private property
Access to private land was required to build the Sugarloaf Pipeline and create the easement. All landowners were notified in advance by the Sugarloaf Pipeline Alliance and the Alliance always endeavoured to meet with landowners to discuss individual needs wherever possible.
Under the Water Act 1989 (Victoria), Melbourne Water had the right to access private property to undertake investigations and construct the Sugarloaf Pipeline.
Reducing impacts of construction
While construction activities created some difficulties with traffic and road works as well as a degree of dust and noise, the Alliance always attempted to reduce these impacts as much as possible.
Biosecurity controls
The Sugarloaf Pipeline Alliance worked with landowners, land managers and others to prevent the transmission of plant and animal diseases as a result of works associated with the project. The Department of Primary Industries guided the Alliance’s biosecurity controls.
The Sugarloaf Pipeline Alliance created two biosecurity fact sheets to guide affected landowners.
Landowner compensation
Melbourne Water is paying compensation under the Land Acquisition and Compensation Act 1986 (Victoria) to landowners where an easement is acquired on their land. Compensation is also available under the Water Act 1989 (Victoria) to land occupiers for any pecuniary (financial) losses as a direct, natural and reasonable consequence of the construction of the Sugarloaf Pipeline.
The Sugarloaf Pipeline Alliance created two compensation fact sheets to guide affected landowners.
Comprehensive insurance cover
Landowners were protected from liability during construction of the Sugarloaf Pipeline by Melbourne Water's comprehensive insurance cover. This insurance cover continues whenever Melbourne Water staff enter individual landowners’ properties to inspect or maintain the Sugarloaf Pipeline.
