NSW Water Minister, Melinda Pavey, has announced key engineering and environmental advisors have been appointed for the raising of the Wyangala Dam wall. A Stantec-GHD joint venture had been engaged for the project, which aimed to increase Wyangala’s storage capacity by 53 per cent, or an additional 650GL. Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke, said she was extremely pleased this vital […]
Dams
Opinion: make World Water Day count to combat climate change
Kim Ho Asset management, Dams, Irrigation, News, Pipelines, Water 0by Michael Wandmaker, Managing Director, Melbourne Water We know that water is essential to life. World Water Day is a chance to reflect on this. This year, World Water Day is focused on water and climate change – and how the two are inextricably linked. How we adapt to climate change plays a significant role in our water security. The […]
WaterNSW will replace two valves Toonumbar Dam at Iron Pot Creek, on NSW’s South Coast, to improve water delivery efficiency and ensure the dam meets necessary standards. Toonumbar Dam helps irrigate the Richmond Valley and supplies water to farmers along Iron Pot and Eden Creeks. Previous plans to upgrade the valves had been delayed due to low dam levels caused […]
The Queensland Government will utilise level recorders in Clarendon and Kentville weirs in an effort to maximise water availability to Lockyer Valley farmers. Queensland Natural Resources Minister, Dr Anthony Lynham, said level recorders would be installed in the weirs to ensure the most effective and efficient use of water. “Recorders at the weirs will allow Seqwater to monitor water levels […]
Contract awarded for Ewen Maddock Dam upgrade
Charlotte Pordage Civil Construction, Dams, News, Projects, Spotlight, Water 0A Sunshine Coast contractor has been awarded the contract for the $24 million Ewen Maddock Dam upgrade. Hall Contracting will begin work on the dam in late March 2020. Natural Resources Minister, Dr Anthony Lynham, said the project would bring the dam in line with modern engineering design standards and improve the existing beach and swimming area. “Across the state, […]
Seqwater will start supplementing Brisbane with water supply from Sunshine Coast dams, following recent rainfall along the coast. Natural Resources Minister, Dr Anthony Lynham, said that with Baroon Pocket Dam at just over 97 per cent capacity, Seqwater would reverse the flow of the South East Queensland water grid between the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane. “At the start of summer, […]
WaterNSW protects Sydney’s raw water
Charlotte Pordage Dams, Disaster Management, News, Spotlight, Water 0Precautionary measures taken by WaterNSW in response to unprecedented bushfire damage and the largest rainfall event since 1990 have enabled it to successfully protect Sydney’s dam water quality. Warragamba Dam will resume supply of raw water to the Prospect Water Filtration Plant (PWFP) after WaterNSW experts made a considered decision to draw upon Prospect Reservoir as a precaution in case […]
WaterNSW works to maintain Sydney water quality
Charlotte Pordage Dams, Disaster Management, News, Water 0Water quality experts at WaterNSW have been working to maintain water quality in Sydney’s largest catchment after significant amounts of ash and debris were washed into Warragamba Dam following recent rainfall. During December and January, more than 320,000ha of the Warragamba Catchment was ravaged by fire. Since then, WaterNSW experts have been working to understand the potential consequences of the […]
Pilbara’s Harding Dam is nearing full capacity for the first time in three years thanks to heavy rainfall across Western Australia brought by Tropical Cyclone Damien. Water Corporation North West Regional Manager, Sharon Broad, said the last time Harding Dam was at full capacity was February 2017, after a low pressure system brought significant rainfall to the area. “Prior to […]
Temporary restrictions for Bega and Brogo repealed
Charlotte Pordage Dams, Disaster Management, News, Spotlight, Water 0The NSW Government has repealed temporary irrigation restrictions made for the Bega and Brogo Regulated Rivers due to heavy rainfall leaving Brogo Dam overflowing. At the time of the section 324 order, the Bega and Brogo Regulated Rivers Water Source was in drought stage 2 (emerging water shortage) and was later escalated to the highest stage 4 (critical drought). Brogo […]
Heavy rainfall across the Sydney catchment area has resulted in dam storages receiving the best inflows in nearly three years. Warragamba Dam received inflows of 40GL per day and, based on Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) forecasts, WaterNSW predicted its capacity to rise above 50 per cent for the first time since August 2019. The Warragamba storage level reached 69 per […]
Lower Hunter Water Plan explores all options
Charlotte Pordage Dams, Desalination, News, Projects, Sustainability, Water 0Hunter Water is reviewing its Lower Hunter Water Plan and has released a map highlighting a number of potential sites for supply and demand options that have been shortlisted for further investigation. Hunter Water is working with the community and the NSW Government to review the plan, which will ensure the region has a sustainable supply of water in the […]
Dams and water supply schemes suffer due to lack of rain
Charlotte Pordage Dams, Disaster Management, News, Spotlight, Sustainability, Water 0Water Corporation is having to cart water to town tanks, standpipes and other storages to Western Australian communities impacted by little to no rainfall in recent months due to climate change. Water Corporation is carting about 11 million litres of drinking water each week to Cranbrook, Grass Patch, Hyden, Lake King, Varley, Rocky Gully, Wellstead, Salmon Gums, Ravensthorpe and Walpole. With dry […]
TasWater starts Mikany Dam upgrades
Charlotte Pordage Civil Construction, Dams, News, Projects, Water 0TasWater will commence its Mikany Dam upgrades in February 2020, ensuring improved flood capacity and future water surety for Smithton, Stanley and Irishtown. The dam, built in 1972, is fed by the Deep and Muckeye Creeks catchment, and is the main source of water for the communities connected to the TasWater network. “At the time, the construction of the dam […]
WaterNSW to protect dam water quality from bushfire risks
Charlotte Pordage Dams, Disaster Management, News, Spotlight, Water 0WaterNSW has expanded preparations to limit potential impacts on the water quality in dam storages as rain is forecast across NSW from Thursday 16 January to Monday 20 January. Following recent bushfires at Warragamba Dam, in the Shoalhaven, on the South Coast, Blue Mountains and the Riverina, the NSW Minister for Water, Melinda Pavey, said the government’s priority is protecting […]
Drought conditions push Windamere-Burrendong water transfer
Charlotte Pordage Dams, Disaster Management, News, Water 0WaterNSW is to transfer water from Windamere to Burrendong dam via the Cudgegong River to secure vital supply in the Macquarie valley. Burrendong Dam is currently at 1.8 per cent of capacity and experiencing acute drought conditions, with chronically low inflows in the past 12 months and a predicted storage capacity of 1.2 per cent by the end of January. […]
Level two water restrictions will commence across the Lower Hunter, starting in early 2020 as the region sees the lowest dam levels in almost 40 years. The restrictions come as a result of a hot summer and dry conditions forecast by the Bureau of Meteorology, and will go ahead if predictions are correct. This would be the first time level […]
With local dams suffering significant water shortages, WaterNSW is meeting with customers and other water users in the state’s far north and far south coasts to discuss the future of water usage and availability. Toonumbar Dam near Kyogle in the state’s north sits at 28 per cent of storage capacity, down from 95 per cent at the start of the […]
Kangaroo Creek Dam upgrade hops over finish line
Utility Journalist Civil Construction, Dams, News, Water 0SA Water has completed a $94 million safety upgrade of the Kangaroo Creek Dam in the Adelaide Hills, after nearly four years of construction. Work began in January 2016 and focused on significantly widening and strengthening the dam’s concrete spillway – which carries water safely to the River Torrens if the water level exceeds the dam’s full supply – as […]
Reports lead to call for Paradise Dam inquiry
Charlotte Pordage Asset management, Condition Assessment, Dams, Disaster Management, Maintenance, News, Projects, Safety and Training, Spotlight, Sustainability, Water 0An independent inquiry will be held following the release of technical reports which detail the structural and stability issues of Paradise Dam. Queensland’s Natural Resources Minister, Dr Anthony Lynham, announced that former Supreme Court judge John Byrne AO would head a transparent, fully-independent inquiry into the dam’s structural and stability issues. “The government has been listening to the Bundaberg community,” […]
Water restrictions tighten across Australia
Charlotte Pordage Asset management, Dams, Disaster Management, News, Stakeholder Engagement, Sustainability, Water 0Three states across the east of Australia have seen a number of councils and water utilities impose tighter water restrictions due to the severity of the drought. Sydney Water will move to level 2 restrictions – effective 10 December – two months earlier than expected. This will affect councils and communities spanning from Newcastle to the Illawarra, and west to the […]
Bill passed to fast-track water infrastructure
Charlotte Pordage Asset management, Civil Construction, Dams, Disaster Management, News, Policy, Projects, Safety and Training, Spotlight, Stakeholder Engagement, Sustainability, Water 0New South Wales Water Minister, Melinda Pavey, has welcomed the Water Supply (Critical Needs) Bill 2019 passing through State Parliament. Mrs Pavey said the temporary legislation would allow the New South Wales Government to fast-track water infrastructure projects where there is a critical town water supply need for the next two years. “With 98 per cent of NSW in drought […]
Safer approach to monitoring what species live, breed and feed in our waterways
Charlotte Pordage Asset management, Condition Assessment, Dams, News, Safety and Training, Sustainability, Water 0Monitoring what wildlife species are living in Melbourne’s waterways has become easier, safer and more reliable, with an innovative – and animal-friendly – approach implemented by Melbourne Water. Environmental DNA (eDNA) is a relatively new technology that eliminates the need to catch, see or hear animals in a waterway, because the trace DNA in a simple sample of water can […]
Community invited to get involved in dam upgrade
Charlotte Pordage Asset management, Civil Construction, Dams, News, Projects, Stakeholder Engagement, Water 0Somerset residents will have the opportunity to play an important role in planning the upcoming Somerset Dam upgrade. Seqwater is establishing a Community Reference Group, which will work collaboratively with the bulk water supplier to develop and implement a voluntary Social Impact Management Plan for the project. The group will help identify potential impacts of the upgrade and ways to […]
Water releases from Bundaberg’s Paradise Dam have commenced, ahead of the upcoming 2019-20 wet season, to reduce the dam’s water storage level to 42 per cent. While the dam is safe under normal and current forecast weather conditions, detailed investigations have shown that there are issues with the dam in the unlikely event of another 1-in-200-year event like 2013. Reducing […]
Green light for further assessment of Hells Gates Dam proposal
Journalist Civil Construction, Dams, News, Projects, Water 0The Queensland Government will give the green light for further assessment of the $5 billion Hells Gates Dam proposal to help the project progress. Natural Resources Minister, Dr Anthony Lynham, announced that the state would sign a bilateral agreement with the Commonwealth to progress further assessment. “I know our three local Members of Parliament in Townsville and the people of […]
New gantry crane for Kununurra Diversion Dam
Journalist Civil Construction, Dams, News, Safety and Training, Water 0Western Australia’s Kununurra Diversion Dam has received a new gantry crane in a $4.1 million State Government funded project to replace the previous 50-year-old piece of irrigation infrastructure. The 7m, 65 tonne steel crane will ensure the ongoing operation of the Kununurra Diversion Dam, which diverts and regulates the flow of water from the Ord River into the Ord Irrigation […]
Water grid to supplement north Brisbane water supply
Journalist Civil Construction, Dams, News, Projects, Water 0South East Queensland’s (SEQ) water grid will provide security of supply as the North Pine Water Treatment Plant goes offline for maintenance and upgrade works. Natural Resources Minister, Dr Anthony Lynham, said the SEQ grid will be used to supplement north Brisbane’s water supply over June and July. “The water grid will be used to move water from the Sunshine […]
Water supply and dam safety top priorities in Queensland budget
Journalist Dams, News, Policy, Water 0Enhancing the safety of dams and securing reliable water supplies are top priorities of the Queensland Government’s 2019-20 Natural Resources, Mines and Energy budget. Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy, Dr Anthony Lynham, said more than $600 million was being invested with the focus on both renewable and non-renewable natural resources, delivering safe, secure, affordable and sustainable energy and […]
Desalination secures Melbourne’s water supply
Journalist Dams, Desalination, News, Water, Water and Wastewater Treatment 0Melbourne’s water storages have been replenished with water from Victoria’s Desalination Plant, securing the city’s supply and helping to avoid strict restrictions. Victorian Minister for Water, Lisa Neville, said the largest ever order of 125GL would start to reach Cardinia Reservoir from 11 June 2019 and be delivered progressively over the following year. “Water is now flowing into our storages […]
Balancing act: future-proofing Australia’s electricity network
Read the latest issue online
Sponsored Content
-
Cable spool management system challenging industry standard March 27, 2024
Nexans Mobiway™ Boost, a revolutionary cable spool management system that chal...
-
Recycled water: the state of play in 2024 March 22, 2024
As climate change and population growth continue to put drinking water supplies ...
-
New flow meter detecting dangerous methane leaks March 4, 2024
Engineers monitoring natural gas compressors for dry seal leaks of toxic, combus...
-
Urban Utilities selects facilities management partner February 27, 2024
Queensland’s Urban Utilities has inked a new deal with the partner that will p...
-
Leading international supply chain risk management service launches in Australia February 22, 2024
Veriforce CHAS, the renowned UK-based provider of supply chain risk prevention, ...
Upcoming Events
- There are no upcoming events.