The closure of Melbourne's north-south pipeline: A case of hydraulic autarky

This paper considers the current status of the water held on behalf of Melburnians that was to have been delivered via the north–south pipeline that connects irrigation areas in northern Victoria with metropolitan Melbourne. We focus on the political decision to now limit the use of this water and the impacts on current water customers. Attention is also given to the longer-term consequences and how excising the option of low-cost access to water via the pipeline is shaping water planning for Melbourne. We conclude that the lack of transparency on these matters undermines the so-called cost-effectiveness analysis being offered to support future water plans.