Pipelines making headway in 2022

2022 is shaping up to be a busy year for the pipeline industry, with a number of water pipeline projects already underway. In this edition of The Australian Pipeliner looks at some of the current water pipeline works across Australia.

Australia has a well-developed pipeline industry, with New South Wales, Tasmania, Western Australian, Queensland and South Australia all having an increase in water pipeline projects to kick-start 2022. The Australian Pipeliner breaks down the upcoming projects on the radar.

In New South Wales the new Dungowan Pipeline has commenced, which is a 55 km pipe that will deliver greater water security for Tamworth and the Peel Valley.

It will also connect the new Dungowan Dam to Tamworth’s Calala Water Treatment Plant.

Stage one of the project is expected to take up to 18 months to complete. However, Minister for Lands and Water Kevin Anderson says this once-ina-generation project will improve water security for the communities of Tamworth and the Peel Valley.

“Starting the construction phase just two weeks after we received planning approval for this pipeline shows that I am serious about prioritising water infrastructure projects in this region,” says Anderson.

“Not only does the construction of the pipeline provide greater water security, but it will generate revenue for 30 local businesses and support up to 70 new jobs, injecting millions of dollars into the local economy.”

Funding has been secured from the federal and state governments to lay the groundwork for a new 10 km pipeline and potential new dam in the Lachlan Valley.

The federal and New South Wales governments have committed $6 million to undertake a business case into the construction of a 10 km pipeline between Lake Rowlands and Carcoar Dam.

The new infrastructure is intended to deliver better water access to farmers and residents across the Central Tablelands region in NSW.

Plans also include the option to raise the existing Lake Rowlands Dam or construct a new dam downstream.

The proposed new dam would increase water storage capacity from 4 gigalitres (GL) up to between 8.5 GL and 30 GL, while the new Lake Rowlands to Carcoar Dam pipeline would enable transferring 25 megalitres (ML) of water per day.

Regional communities in Tasmania are set to benefit from increased water security through the construction of a new recycled water distribution network in Bicheno and an upgrade to the 140-year-old Lake Leake Dam.

The joint Australian and Tasmanian government funding for the two water infrastructure projects includes $17.1 million for the Bicheno Recycled Water Scheme and a further $3 million for the Lake Leake Dam Life Extension Upgrade.

Together these two projects will support around 37 new construction jobs and deliver more reliable water supplies to help local farmers and support expanded agricultural and primary industry production in the surrounding regions.

The Bicheno Recycled Water Scheme project will construct a distribution network for recycled

water, including pipelines, pump stations and a 100 ML storage dam for primary producers in the Bicheno region.

When it's finished, the Bicheno project will add an extra 64 ML per year of recycled water back into the supply of nearby communities to boost their agriculture production. By 2050 about 83 ML a year of recycled water will flow back into the water supply.

The Lake Leake Dam Life Extension Upgrade project will upgrade the 140-year-old Lake Leake Dam to extend its useful life by a further 100 years, maintaining 14.6 GL per year of water for vital crop and livestock production in Tasmania's Eastern Midlands area.

Through Water Corporation, the Western Australian Government is delivering upgrades to water supply networks to secure the state’s prosperity.

Water Corporation has unveiled a new 2.1 km water pipeline servicing a housing development in Perth’s south-east.

Waste Minister Dave Kelly says the $4 million project will provide a secure and reliable supply of high-quality drinking water for the current and future residents of Mundijong and Whitby.

“With tens of thousands of people set to call this area home over the next few decades, it’s vital growing communities like Mundijong and Whitby have the infrastructure to support sustainable growth,” Kelly says.

The pipeline was laid underneath Paterson Street between Mundijong Road and Keirnan Street to avoid impacting established trees along the verge.

Kelly says this new source was particularly vital given the long-term impacts of climate change on drinking water supply.

Through Water Corporation, the McGowan Government has allocated over $140 million to water supply and network projects in Perth and Peel in 2021-22.

Works for Stage 2 of the $274 million project are progressing in preparation for construction and installation of 30 km of 1.8 m pipeline from the Haughton River to Burdekin.

The Haughton Pipeline Project is a water security initiative supporting the Ross River Dam water catchment, providing greater capacity to deliver raw water into the dam.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill announced the first tender for Stage 2 of the Haughton Pipeline has been released, bringing the significant project closer to construction.

Palaszczuk says her government was providing up to $195 million in funding for the project.

“Stage 2 of the Haughton Pipeline project will go a long way in ensuring Townville water security for decades to come,” she says.

“This project will also support hundreds of jobs during construction, boosting North Queensland’s economic recovery.”

Townsville City Council has formally signed off on a detailed road map for the project, including approval to increase the budget to $274 million, including an appropriate contingency allowance.

“Completing the second stage of the Haughton pipeline will give Townsville the water security it needs as it grows over the next 50 years,” says Hill.

Construction of the pipeline and pump station is expected to be complete by the end of 2024 with testing and commissioning to be finalised by March 2025.

Drone photograph at sunset over Carcoar Dam.

SA Water is commencing installation of two new water mains in South Australia as part of the utility’s $155 million four-year water main management program.

This includes 410 m of new water main installed at Willaston and 370 m of new main at Willamulka on the Yorke Peninsula.

The Willaston pipe is being laid beneath Right Street and Paxton Street, and is among 47,000 m of water mains going in the ground for SA Water customers across regional South Australia over the coming year.

The Willamulka pipeline will be laid beneath Wembley Boundary Road.

Both projects will use PVC pipe, which is renowned for its chemically inert properties and its resistance to soil movement.