The Queensland Government's Regional Water Assessment program, which aims to identify future water security solutions in key food bowls across the state, is moving forwards, with preliminary analysis and feedback already received. Started in late 2021, the Regional Water Assessment involves councils, industry representatives, scientific experts and key stakeholders working together to develop a holistic approach to water security and [...]
Tamar Valley farmers are being encouraged to contractually apply for Tamar Irrigation Scheme water entitlements as part of the threshold needed by Tasmanian Irrigation to secure State and Federal Government funding. The $290 million and 24,500ML Tamar Irrigation Scheme opened with water sales for the next six weeks, allowing Tasmanian Irrigation to view actual demand from landowners. If water sales [...]
The extension of the recycled water pipeline in Portarlington has been completed, and is expected to increase the availability of recycled water on the Bellarine Peninsula in Victoria. The $2 million project means recycled water can now be supplied to agricultural and horticultural customers, including vineyards, along Portarlington Road from Scotchmans Road to Church Road. The expansion has already seven [...]
Over 7,000 native Australian plants are thriving at SA Water's wastewater pump station in Murray Bridge, turning into a cultural space for the community to enjoy. Named 'Nankeri tapatawangk' – the Ngarrindjeri name meaning 'place of good water' – the landscaping and artwork design of the pump station was brought to life together with Aboriginal architect and visual artist Paul [...]
On the eve of construction commencing, the Federal Government has given the Don Irrigation Scheme extra funding as part of the 2022-23 Budget. The Federal Government has committed an additional $13.7 million toward the 4,750ML project, which will increase the Don and Barrington areas’ agricultural productivity and capability. The $54.4 million project will construct two separate distribution networks to improve [...]
A business case for the construction of a new reservoir in South Australia’s McLaren Vale district will be funded by the Federal Government, with the potential to bring 1,350ML of recycled water to the area. If viable, the McLaren Vale Irrigation Water Security project could deliver an estimated 750ML of new water allocations for irrigation in the region, helping businesses [...]
A major water recycling scheme in Victoria, the Western Irrigation Network, is one step closer to supporting local farmland irrigation, with the storage dam at Melton Recycled Water Plant now being filled. The Western Irrigation Network project is on-track to supply reliable water to local farmers and help irrigate thousands of hectares of farmland from early 2023. The recently completed, [...]
The water collected by Australia’s largest irrigation modernisation project can now be delivered to irrigators, the environment and the Melbourne retail water corporations. The Connections Project has exceeded its water recovery target of 429GL by 4GL. Minister for Water, Lisa Neville, announced all water committed through the project in the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District (GMID) is ready for dispatch, with [...]
A combined investment of $20 million by the Australian and Tasmanian governments is set to deliver irrigation infrastructure to Tasmanian farmers and support the growth of their businesses. The investment includes: $17.1 million for a distribution network for recycled water and a 100 megalitre storage dam in the Bicheno region, providing an additional 64 megalitres per year initially and increasing [...]
The Queensland Government has announced the opening of a competitive tender for 110,000ML of unallocated water from the Flinders River general reserve, aiming to support agricultural development in the Flinders catchment. Water Minister, Glenn Butcher, said, “We are delivering on our commitment to open the tender this year so we can get this water flowing to this community. “This water [...]
The Victorian Government and Lower Murray Water (LMW) have launched public consultation on the $37 million Lower Murray Water - Water Efficiency Project, set to upgrade infrastructure in the Sunraysia Irrigation District. If approved by the Commonwealth for funding, the project is expected to result in water savings and a more reliable and efficient system for irrigators. The public consultation [...]
The Victorian Government has introduced new reforms to improve transparency and compliance in irrigation, combat a future shortfall, and ensure irrigation water is being fairly used. The Water and Catchment Legislation Amendment Bill 2021, delivers on calls from irrigators for greater transparency on water ownership and trading, including allowing the names of the largest water owners to be published on [...]
Tasmanian Irrigation has partnered with GHD and Pinion Advisory, seeking design and technical support for five irrigation schemes and associated pipelines, tanks, dams and pump stations – to increase agricultural water supply for farmers. The projects are part of the Tranche Three program, a joint investment between the Australian Government, Tasmanian Government and Tasmanian farmers to develop ten irrigation schemes [...]
As average temperatures continue to rise, and the number of extreme heat days each year increases, keeping cool is more important than ever. In Australia and worldwide, our cities are particularly affected by hot weather, with severe public health, liveability, environmental and economic consequences. Adopting innovative smart irrigation can significantly and cost-effectively cool urban spaces, mitigating the effects of heatwaves [...]
The 2021/22 Victorian Budget has invested nearly $44 million towards water sector initiatives that will improve the health of key waterways and provide immediate benefits to regional economies, as well as a $110 million investment in essential energy functions, safer powerlines and Zero Emissions Vehicles. $24.5 million will be devoted to helping regional economies in East Gippsland and North East [...]
Tenders to design and construct critical water infrastructure assets as part of the Granite Belt Irrigation Project (GBIP) are being released in the coming weeks, in what is a key milestone for the construction of Emu Swamp Dam. GBIP is a landmark infrastructure development for the Granite Belt region and will provide a 12,000 megalitre dam at Emu Swamp, south-west [...]
SA Water’s smart irrigation initiative has triumphed in the Industrial and Primary Production category at the 2021 iTnews Benchmark Awards. Implemented in December 2019, the project aims to work with the South Australian community to help maintain cool, green open spaces that build healthy communities, while also providing cost and water saving benefits through more effective and site-specific use of [...]
A new Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub (one of eight across the country) is being launched for Southern New South Wales and Wagga, to be led by Charles Sturt University. Federal Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management, David Littleproud, said the Southern New South Wales Hub is one of eight across the country to be established that will [...]
Work is underway to drought-proof one of Queensland’s most popular racecourses, with infrastructure upgrades enabling Urban Utilities to increase its supply of recycled water. Plant upgrades have allowed Urban Utilities to boost the volume of recycled water supplied to the Kilcoy Race Club by around 25 per cent over the past 18 months. It comes at a crucial time as [...]
Following the Federal Budget announcement that Tasmania will receive $80 million in funding for water and irrigation projects, Tasmanian Minister for Primary Industries and Water, Guy Barnett, has announced that construction of the Don Irrigation Scheme will begin in 2021. It follows a positive response to water sales from landholders in the Don district, with the scheme to create 90 [...]
The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Amendment Report for Hunter Water’s proposed Drought Response Desalination Plant at Belmont has been released. Hunter Water is calling for the Lower Hunter community to view the Amendment Report to understand the changes to the initial proposal and how the water utility has responded to community feedback raised in submissions to the original EIS in [...]
The Victorian Government has announced that the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) has agreed to a Goulburn to Murray inter-valley trade delivery goal to ensure irrigators have sufficient access to water. The MDBA will aim for Goulburn to Murray inter-valley trade deliveries of a maximum of 40 gigalitres a month or less over summer and autumn to stop further environmental damage [...]
Bryozoans are colonial organisms found in oceans, lakes and streams around the world. While bryozoans are non-toxic and do not pose a health risk to humans or animals, they do grow quickly – in the right conditions they can double in size in a week – and can clog pipes and filters in irrigation systems. After consultation with its irrigation [...]
Electrofusion welding is one of the most popular methods of joining HDPE/poly pipes. Electrofusion welders supply electrical energy to heat the embedded coil in various sizes and types of fittings, causing the pipe and fitting to fuse together. Caldertech has been manufacturing industry-leading electrofusion welders for over 30 years. Manufactured in the UK to this day, its welders are synonymous [...]
The Queensland Government has appointed national engineering consultancy Premise to oversee the final planning stages of Emu Swamp Dam, following an advanced release of $6 million to accelerate the process. The Granite Belt Irrigation Project (GBIP) will deliver a 12,000ML dam at Emu Swamp, south-west of Stanthorpe, and 117km of pipeline to provide water to 51 agribusiness customers and bring [...]
South East Water has begun a feasibility study into the potential for connecting the hinterland region of Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula to a permanent supply of water. Melbourne Water’s Eastern Treatment Plant at Bangholme discharges around 350 million litres per day of high-quality recycled water along the entire length of the Mornington Peninsula via a large pipeline called the South Eastern [...]
Water deficiency has been declared in the Shires of Jerramungup and Esperance, bringing the total of such declarations in Western Australia to 12 since May 2019. The WA Government has now begun carting water to the shires for emergency water supplies for animal welfare needs. The official declaration follows applications from the Shire of Jerramungup on behalf of ten farmers [...]
by 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 [...]
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