crosscurrent
Tasmania
Victoria
A $30 million upgrade and expansion of Southern Water’s Huon Valley water supply infrastructure will provide a reliable and sustainable drinking water supply to local communities. The Australian Government has invested $12 million in the Huon Valley Regional Water Scheme, which will significantly improve the region’s long-term water security and return nearly one billion litres of water to the environment.
The opening of Whitfield’s $2.2 million Water Treatment Plant marks a new beginning for a town that previously endured regular water restrictions, water carting and boil water notices. Minister for Water Peter Walsh, said the new treatment facility would bring significant improvement to the reliability and quality of water supply in an important Victorian tourism hub.
Senator Don Farrell, Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and Urban Water, and Senator for Tasmania, Carol Brown have announced the Australian Government’s $2.9 million funding contribution to the Integrated Water Cycle Management Project at Nyrstar Hobart. Nyrstar Hobart is a large-scale zinc smelter that has been operating on the banks of the Derwent Estuary for almost 100 years. “The project will save up to 869 megalitres per year of potable water using treated stormwater, offsetting more than 30 per cent of the current potable water usage within the smelter,” Senator Farrell said.
Legislation to establish a single, statewide water and sewerage entity has been tabled in Tasmania’s State Parliament. The Tasmanian Minister for Finance, Scott Bacon, said the bill would allow for reform of Tasmania’s water and sewerage businesses.
Queensland The Queensland Government has announced the first round of projects under the pilot Royalties for Regions initiative, with the majority of the funding targeting road infrastructure. Royalties for the Regions is about reinvesting a share of royalties in resource regions to help build new and improved community, road and floodplain security infrastructure. Business cases are due on 17 December 2012, with a final go-ahead for the projects early in the New Year.
Engineers Australia has responded to recent media comment surrounding the cost of ‘drought-busting infrastructure’. “Securing a long term cost effective source of potable water is critical for the future development of South East Queensland. This is particularly challenging in our variable climate where drought and flood conditions both need to be catered for”, said Steven Goh, Queensland President of Engineers Australia.
Queensland’s first water and sewerage benchmarking report has now been completed using 2010/11 data. It is the result of a collaborative project between several of Queensland’s Service Providers and qldwater over the last 12 months to determine the appropriate indicators to include and display. In total, 16 service providers decided to participate in the public release of their data in the report.
10 DECEMBER 2012 water
A new public awareness campaign is encouraging Melburnians to build stormwater-filtering ‘raingardens’ to prevent pollution from entering rivers and creeks. As part of Melbourne Water’s ‘10,000 Raingardens’ campaign, commuters will sit among larger-than-life raingarden displays at bus shelters and tram stops across Melbourne, showing how easily they can help protect local waterways at home.
A recently completed review into the floods that swept through North East Victoria earlier this year highlights opportunities to improve emergency management arrangements and community resilience during flood events. Emergency Services Commissioner, Michael Hallowes said feedback from affected residents and emergency service personnel was integral to preparing the 2012 North East Victoria Flood Review. “Reviews are a great opportunity to look back with the benefit of hindsight and determine what can be done differently in the future to improve emergency management arrangements including preparedness and response,” he said.
Western Australia The Western Australian Government has announced a new plan to ensure the maintenance of the high quality of Esperance’s drinking water. State Water Minister, Bill Marmion, said the plan was crucial to maintaining water quality throughout the region. The Esperance Water Reserve drinking water source protection plan is part of a strategy that aims to protect drinking water sources throughout Western Australia.
Water Minister Bill Marmion has welcomed to the Water Corporation three new board members and appointed a new deputy chairwoman. “Vanessa Guthrie, Peter McMorrow and Tony Iannello have been appointed to the Water Corporation board from January 1, 2013,” Mr Marmion said. “The new members have a wealth of experience which will enhance the boards effectiveness.” Karen Field has been appointed deputy chairwoman of the Water Corporation board. Mrs Field was appointed to the board in 2006 and has extensive experience as a board member on a number of listed and unlisted Australian companies.
The WA Department of Water has released its first draft allocation plan for the Pilbara, outlining how groundwater resources will be managed to support industry and towns in the region. The plan covers a 200,000 square kilometre area that includes the coastal towns of Port Hedland, Karratha and Onslow and inland to Marble Bar, Paraburdoo and Newman.
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