The Victorian Government is set to conduct a Network Outage Review, led by an expert panel, into the catastrophic storm event on 13 February 2024 that left more than 530,000 Victorians without power. The expert panel is expected to make recommendations on the operational response of transmission and distribution businesses, including contingency planning, timely and effective management of the incident, [...]
The severe power outages that affected hundreds of thousands of Victorians after the 13 February storms have been resolved, with AusNet announcing that power has been restored to all affected customers. Since the storms, AusNet crews have worked day and night to restore the network to more than 360,000 AusNet customers who were left without power as a result of [...]
In the wake of Tropical Cyclone Kirrily Ergon Energy deployed 750 crews who have worked long hours in severe conditions for six days to restore power to the 66,000 customers affected by the storm. Ergon Energy General Manager Field Delivery, Chris Hooper, who led the emergency response, said that it had been an outstanding effort to support customers and communities [...]
Severe weather in Western Australia has led to substantial network damage and outages across the state, with Western Power advising residents to expect delays in repairs. A thunderstorm in Western Australia on Tuesday 16 January 2024 has caused extensive damage to Western Power’s network, and crews are working to respond to hundreds of hazards and assess and repair damage across [...]
Ergon Energy has advised that approximately 90 per cent of customers impacted by Ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper were restored by 9pm on 16 December 2023, while 4,300 customers remained without electricity supply at that time. This figure is down from the peak of 40,000. With a flood emergency currently in place, the number of power outages associated with the secondary event [...]
As rising global temperatures cause a shift in weather patterns, more frequent and severe flooding poses a growing threat to critical utility infrastructure, which in turn leads to the disruption of essential services and presents a danger to the community. This is where advanced surveillance technologies come into play, offering significant benefits for flood management. Flooding around critical infrastructure can [...]
In October 2022, central Victoria was hit with a major flooding event that devastated local communities. Homeowners were forced to evacuate as floodwaters damaged homes, rivers and roads. But amidst unprecedented circumstances, Coliban Water’s unwavering focus on caring for customers, and staff dedication to local communities helped it act quickly to mitigate the damage. Coliban Water Managing Director, Damian Wells, [...]
Speed and security are the two principles with which the key management system was developed. The result of an innovative collaboration between Harcor and Amtac, Keys-on-Tap is a new revolutionary key management platform that takes those two core principles to new levels. Keys-on-Tap paves a critical avenue for fleet management and includes capabilities that have never been made accessible before [...]
With the arrival of El Niño comes pressing concerns for water security and inevitable water restrictions as utilities are faced with the challenge of limited water supply. Equipping consumers with water consumption data allows them to keep a close eye on their water usage, and reduce water waste at a time when every drop counts. As we approach the hot [...]
United Energy has been ordered to pay $93,200 in fines and court costs after it was convicted of failing to properly maintain vegetation clearance around powerlines in south-east Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula. Energy Safe Victoria, the safety regulator for the state, brought 24 charges to the hearing, following inspections by compliance officers during 2021 and 2022. Energy Safe Victoria [...]
A sewer in Adelaide’s north-east has had a half-tonne tree root removed by SA Water, potentially preventing community interruptions and sewage overflows. The five-kilometre-long, 675-millimetre-diameter sewerage pipe travels beneath suburban streets and reserves between Bridge Road in Walkley Heights and Kelly Road in Para Vista, with a large number of trees in the area. During a 30-minute period, SA Water’s [...]
UNESCO has urged the Federal Government to take greater action to reduce emissions in its latest report, warning that the Great Barrier Reef is still under “serious threat” of climate change and further degradation. As global temperatures continue to rise, the Great Barrier Reef is once again under threat from marine heatwaves and the mass bleaching events that follow. The [...]
By Paul Roberts, Head of Corporate Affairs, SA Power Networks In response to the devastating 2022–23 River Murray flooding crisis, SA Power Networks dramatically transformed its flood response with AI and LiDAR technology to assess network damage and risk through digital flood impact modelling. The recent River Murray flooding event was unprecedented in its magnitude, now declared South Australia’s most [...]
Shepparton’s Hawdon Street residents are now able to enjoy a more reliable water supply since the completion of the city’s 60-year-old water main replacement project. The new water main was constructed between Knight Street and Balaclava Road, stretching over 800m, providing residents along Hawdon Street and those in north Shepparton with better water reliability. The project was completed over three [...]
The ACT Government has launched a collection of projects that are expected to improve the water quality and protect the ecosystem of Lake Tuggeranong. ACT Minister for Water, Energy and Emissions Reduction, Shane Rattenbury, said the projects will improve the natural quality of the water that goes into Lake Tuggeranong. “This will reduce the amount of nutrients that cause the [...]
A new collaboration between Melbourne Water, the Bureau of Meteorology and the Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) will be looking to implement an improved flood warning system for Greater Melbourne catchments in the wake of the October 2022 Maribyrnong River event. The agencies will evaluate options and work together to streamline flood forecasts and warnings – one of a range [...]
Vegetation management is a vital part of helping to protect the Alice Springs community from the impacts of severe weather. You might not expect wild storms, gusty winds and heavy rains in the desert regions of Central Australia, yet they occur frequently during late spring and summer. The storms can cause significant destruction, and the town of Alice Springs – [...]
Coliban Water has completed slip-lining works onf a historic 90-year old pipeline in Eaglehawk, Victoria, as part of ongoing works to enhance water security for rural customers in the area. The pipeline stretches over two kilometres, extending from Upper California Gully Road to Butts Road. Coliban Water Manager Infrastructure, Corey Bourne, said the works are part of an upgrade which [...]
Asset management is a key responsibility of utilities across Australia, and arguably the most important and critical of these is vegetation and tree clearing around powerlines. Vermeer’s range of equipment offers sustainable vegetation management choices for utilities, and recycling options for project byproducts. These days, individuals and organisations are being urged to consider their choices and make decisions with sustainability [...]
Water Corporation has finished construction of a permanent wastewater main in Fitzroy Crossing, as part of flood recovery efforts. The previous pipeline attached to the Fitzroy River Bridge was damaged during a one-in-100-year flood event following ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie. In February 2023, Water Corporation installed a temporary main to transfer the town's wastewater from the western side of the river [...]
Utilities across Australia and the globe are increasingly turning to the potential of digital data and digital intelligence to assess the condition of assets. The use of digital technologies and data analytics is disrupting traditional business models, changing the way linear assets are designed, built, inspected, and operated. The COVID-19 pandemic, technological advancements, and regulatory changes, as well as the [...]
One key component of the water treatment process is the disinfection of water, which is often achieved through the use of sodium hypochlorite. Although it is a powerful disinfectant, it is also highly reactive. This article explores how sodium hypochlorite is used in water treatment plants, best practices for storing it, and guidelines for safe handling. Sodium hypochlorite (NaCIO) is [...]
This past summer, communities along the River Murray in South Australia experienced flooding not seen in decades. Harnessing a combination of proactive planning, extensive infrastructure assessments and a hands-on community engagement approach, SA Water was able to largely maintain essential services throughout this generational natural event, including an uninterrupted drinking water supply. Peaking at around 190GL per day at the [...]
On May 10th, 2023, the New South Wales Government announced that it will not proceed with the Dungowan Dam project, following advice from various experts and agencies after the Federal Government withdrew funding. In the coming weeks, the New South Wales Government will be releasing the final Namoi Water Strategy, which will outline the path forward and plan to improve [...]
Greater Western Water (GWW) has announced an essential upgrade to a 2km section on one of Melbourne’s oldest water mains – the Royal Parade water main in Parkville. Greater Western Water’s (GWW) General Manager Growth and Infrastructure, Amanda Smith, said the existing water main was built in 1889 and was in need of an upgrade to maintain a safe and [...]
An increasing reliance on technology in water and wastewater infrastructure management has resulted in cybersecurity challenges becoming a significant concern in the sector, and one that must be addressed to ensure a safe and reliable water supply. As more critical infrastructure is connected to the internet or accessible to staff, it is increasingly targeted by cybercriminals interested in breaching operational [...]
NBN Co is conducting a trial using wind power to assess if small wind technology can extend the battery life of the infrastructure and improve network resilience during natural disasters. During an emergency event, damage to localised power outages can impact NBN services and leave people without vital access to communications. When this occurs, NBN Co deploys temporary network infrastructure [...]
The New South Wales Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) has invited Griffith City Council to participate in a two-month pilot Network Leak Detection Program. As part of the pilot program, specialist water network leak detection contractors will undertake on-the-ground surveying to identify water leaks in the Griffith Local Government Area (LGA) from 11 April 2023 for a period of [...]
Sydney Water is implementing a large-scale wastewater monitoring Internet of Things (IoT) deployment, which will see the company spend $15 million dollars to install over 26,000 blockage detection devices across 4,600km of wastewater infrastructure by June 2024. Sydney Water has already installed 9,000 devices across the Sydney wastewater network that causes 70 per cent of overflows to the waterways. The [...]
The Rockhampton Regional Council received $10.8 million from the Queensland Government to continue to truck drinking water from Gracemere to Mount Morgan. Deputy Premier of Queensland and Minister for Local Government, Steven Miles, said the funding would keep this essential service on the road while a pipeline from Gracemere to Mount Morgan was built. “Since March 2021, Mount Morgan has [...]
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