Before subdivisions became popular, the small central Victorian town had 150-160 urban blocks split up in 1864, ready for expected growth.

Only the people never came. 

Many in the town believe the lack of town water or sewerage was – and still is – the main growth inhibitor.

Those living on larger blocks in town use sceptic systems, collect rainwater and take water from the Loddon River. 

The issue with Newbridge is the urban blocks are classified by the Loddon Shire as being too small to use sceptic systems.

Your town, your voice: Find out what issues matter in other central Victorian towns

They are also neither connected to water or sewerage.

The result is a eclectic mix of caravans, shipping containers, a disused tram, and a number of blocks adorned in ‘for sale’ signs, in the centre of town that was earmarked for more substantial housing.

Some residents use the Loddon River for a shower when their rainwater tanks run dry, others regularly use the public toilets on the bank of the river, according to Darryl Peters, 16-year owner of the Newbridge general store. 

“I wouldn’t fancy taking a dip in there,” he said.

For Mr Peters, the great irony of Newbridge’s water troubles is the massive water pipeline currently being built alongside the town.

Blue pipes destined to transport water from the Grampians to central Victoria litter paddocks surrounding the town centre.

The multi-million dollar pipeline, funded by state and federal governments, is designed to provide alternative water supplies for Wedderburn, Bridgewater, Inglewood, Laanecoorie, but not Newbridge.

The lack of water or sewerage is impacting what little business remains in the town.

Mr Peters spent $88,000 creating a two-bedroom bed and breakfast upstairs at the general store, only to be told by the Loddon Shire he could did not meet the necessary sewerage requirements.

Similarly his restaurant downstairs, which has a capacity for 45 patrons, has only been granted a permit for 14 guests.

“We just can’t grow the business, it’s as simple as that,” he said.

Ken O’Shea has spent his retirement penning letters and knocking on doors to highlight the town’s troubles.

“I can’t see a future for the town without water or sewerage,” he said.

“If it’s not done, we’ll be nothing but a few houses on the way to St Arnaud.”

Mr O’Shea and his band of supporters have had success, with Coliban Water and the Loddon Shire engaged in feasibility studies, the results of the most recent one were presented to residents by Coliban Water three weeks ago.

Coliban Water’s study is the latest in a string of investigations regarding Newbridge and its water.

The company’s chief operating officer Neville Pearce said the cheapest option on the table would still cost millions of dollars for the limited number of residents in the town.

“It’s a lot of money for the customers. We looked at a range of different options to minimise the cost of the schemes out there, but they all came back in the millions,” he said.

“If they wanted water from the South West Loddon pipeline – we could do that, but they want treated water so we would have to either build a treatment plant or another pipeline to an existing treatment plant.”

Mr O’Shea suggested the only way for the project to become a reality was with state or federal help.

The residents however, have to put forward a business case for the projected economic development of the town if the water and sewerage was realised.

Build it and they will come, Mr O’Shea joked.

“It’s taken us two-and-a-half years to get the council on board, now they’re helping us. The bottom line is the governments are going to have to foot the bill,” he said.

Loddon Shire’s manager of executive and commercial services Lynne Habner said the town had been pushing for water and sewerage for at least 10 years.

“As Newbridge is one of the closest towns to Bendigo, council sees it as one of the townships that could develop quickly should Bendigo’s population expand,” she said, adding the shire was willing to help the residents pitch their case to respective governments.

Mr Peters believes Newbridge might have been the victim of its location.

Historically situated on the border of local government areas, the town “has always been left out”, according to Mr Peters, who was a contributor to a book detailing the history of Newbridge.

He recalled a time when Marong and Bet Bet shire’s were split by the Loddon River. Both municipalities argued for months over who was to pay to upgrade the bridge, until VicRoads got the cheque book out in 1992.

“Whether it’s footpaths being upgraded, or benches to sit on, we’ve always had to fight for things,” he said.

Newbridge is just one story in a central Victorian region rich in diversity. The Bendigo Advertiser has visited, and will continue to visit, almost 30 towns in our region to capture its uniqueness and prevalent issues ahead of the state election.

To read further on some of the issues affecting other central Victorian towns, click here.

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