DAMDEEP tool impresses farmers
A simple device for measuring the depth of a farm dam was introduced to landholders at a series of workshops in south west Victoria recently. Agriculture Victoria Land Management Extension Officer, and creator of the measuring tool, Greg Bekker said the DAMDEEP device consists of a hand reel, float, beads and a sinker.
Boring machines are making steady progress
The Snowy 2.0 pumped hydro megaproject has marked a significant milestone, with one of three tunnel boring machines (TBM), Lady Eileen Hudson, now two-thirds of the way through its second tunnel excavation. The TBM is approximately four kilometres into the six kilometre ‘tailraceʼ tunnel, which will link the lower Talbingo Reservoir…
Spotlight on Lake Mejum – again!
Sean Cunningham. The Lake Mejum/Coolah water storage proposal is back in the spotlight, following an announcement from Narrandera Shire Council Mayor Neville Kschenka. Council is seeking funds to conduct a feasibility study into Lake Mejum/Coolah as an off Murrumbidgee River water storage location. A former Narrandera Mayor and Murrumbidgee Valley Water Users group member, Warwick Heckendorf, was an advocate for the project decades ago, but his opinion has since changed.
Another flood, another poor response
Two years ago, on 14 November 2022, a wall of water virtually swept the town away, nearly wiping Eugowra from the map. The residents were all but forgotten in the build-up to the event through rushed and late warnings. Immediately after the flood, the emergency response didn’t meet the expectations politicians kept promising after every emergency disaster.
Wilcannia Weir Independent Review Panel members announced
Panel members have now been appointed to lead the independent review into the Wilcannia Weir Replacement Project, marking a significant step forward in the review process. It comes following the NSW Government’s commitment to undertake a review of the Wilcannia proposed weir design.
“More than a mountain of concrete” – building Warragamba Dam
Sydney has struggled with water shortages since European settlement, relying on various schemes over the years, including the Tank Stream and Botany Swamps ... Warragamba Dam remains one of the world's largest domestic water supply dams, standing alongside iconic projects like the Opera House and the Snowy Mountains Scheme.
Still no clear answer or solution on Wilcannia Weir
The Department of Planning and Environment (Water) advised some months ago that there would be an independent review of the original design of the Wilcannia weir. Several names were recommended to the department by the community to form membership of the Independent Review Panel.
Water comes to Corryong
John Murphy. Next Thursday ... will mark exactly 100 years since the residents of Corryong were connected to reticulated (piped) or mains pressure water ... Corryong was officially designated a town in 1875 and from that time until late 1924 householders and businesses were totally reliant for all their domestic and trade water needs on water tanks and often, unreliable wells sunk into granite soil.
Denmark’s new drop: Hard water still healthy
Patricia Gill. Denmark residents are dissatisï¬ed with the taste and staining caused by higher levels than usual of calcium in the town water. Since mid July 2500 homes and businesses in the town started receiving their water via the Albany to Denmark pipeline. The Water Corporation expects to mix water from Quickup Dam soon with that from a $25 million pipeline built in 2021 in response to declining and unreliable rainfall. Despite the rains, dam levels throughout the region are much the same as last year.
Goonellabah Sewerage Scheme makes way for future housing growth
Lismore City Council has delivered a $7 million wastewater project, unlocking development opportunity for up to 600 new housing lots in Goonellabah. Completed in partnership with BASEC Engineering, DGP Water and Ledonne Constructions, the Pineapple Road Sewerage Scheme involved the installation of a new pump station and over four kilometres of pipeline, creating 30 local jobs.
Water security for Wilcannia
A drop in session was held at Baker Park last Thursday to inform the community of the progress of the proposed new bore to supplement the town water supply. Interestingly, the presenters, Maddy, Chris and Shaun, were able to explain a few details that probably have not been conveyed properly to the community.
Rookwood Weir water flowing to Central Queenslanders: Plibersek, Butcher
Rookwood Weir celebrated another milestone as Queensland Water Minister Glenn Butcher joined customers to celebrate water from Rookwood Weir flowing to Central Queensland irrigators. Customers for Australia’s newest major water infrastructure asset began accessing Rookwood Weir water in August 2024 … The weir is providing a significant boost to the region’s water security and will drive economic growth and job creation for generations to come.
Murray Darling Basin Authority visit
An influx of Government and Government Agency staff visited Wilcannia on Monday 29th July to look at the old weir, proposed site for the new weir and meet with local organisations and the Shire. Included in the group was former Western Lands Commissioner and passionate Wilcannia and Darling River advocate Geoff Wise.
Burst water main
Many residents on the south side of Maldon came home to find that their taps were not issuing water last Friday afternoon ... Troy Waterhouse, aptly named, exceptionally good-natured and covered in mud, spent at least an hour in the sludgy pit by the side of the road, scooping out water and fixing the main so that water delivery was restored to residents in reasonable time.
Future “Made in Australia” needs water to make it happen
Boosting technologies and manufacturing for a Future Made in Australia could get off to a healthy start if we focus on water security solutions. That’s according to Kristi McLachlan, who’s the Regional Director of Water Australia Asia for Hatch, a global multidisciplinary leader in urban solutions, engineering, operational and development projects in metals, energy and infrastructure.
Barely a drop to drink
Patricia Gill. Water pressure dropped to a trickle to 400 households last Friday night when a leaking water main was turned off for repairs about 9.30pm. WA Water Corporation crews began work on Friday leaving households without pressure until 6pm on Saturday but the water was cut again from 9am-4pm on Sunday so a Shire of Denmark stormwater drain could be fixed.
Stone walls, not Big Rocks – Katter slams Government inaction forcing council’s hand: Robbie Katter
The Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) Leader and Member for Traeger, Robbie Katter has slammed the Labor Government and their ideologically driven departments, while backing the Charters Towers Regional Council’s decision to wipe their hands of the Big Rocks Weir Project. “This just demonstrates that the Government and the bureaucracy in Brisbane have no appetite whatsoever to help develop and progress North Queensland,” the KAP Leader said.
Big Rocks Weir handed to State Government
Charters Towers Regional Council has ... made a decision to relinquish its role as proponent, developer, owner and operator of the Big Rocks Weir Project (BRW) to the State Government. Council’s original aim was to build and operate a weir in the Big Rocks area, located on the Burdekin River approximately 35km north of Charters Towers.
Water security bolstered
Toowoomba Regional Council's (TRC) $40 million major upgrades to the Mt Kynoch water treatment plant were officially opened on Monday, supporting water needs into the next decade. Toowoomba Region Mayor Geoff McDonald said TRC had invested $40 million in the Stage 4 upgrade to implement modern water treatment processes.
Remediation works to maintain perfect water quality
Lismore City Council is investing $1 million in important remediation work on two water reservoirs after a scheduled in-depth health check on the system's condition. The two identified for repairs are the Esmonde Street and Wyreema Avenue reservoirs.
Open day at Warwick’s Leslie Dam
Meet the team from Sunwater, learn about the history of Leslie Dam and how it works and find out how you can prepare for local weather events and stay safe in and on the water. It’s all happening at Leslie Dam on Saturday 8 June from 10am to 2pm.
It’s dam important – Cressbrook Dam an utmost priority
Toowoomba Region Mayor Geoff McDonald and Deputy Mayor Cr Rebecca Vonhoff last week stepped up the call for external funding for the $270 million Cressbrook Dam Safety Improvement Project ... Without grant funding, Council’s submission to the State Government said the full cost of the dam wall upgrade will be transferred to ratepayers through increased water charges.
