PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE: WHYALLA PIPELINE PUMPING STATIONS

Ms CICCARELLO (Norwood) (11:53): I move:

That the 276^th report of the committee, entitled Whyalla Pipeline Pumping Stations—Replacement of High Voltage Switchboards, be noted.

This project is again to do with water. It is the Morgan-Whyalla pipeline which will certainly bring benefits to the northern part of the state. The high-voltage switchboards and associated low voltage switchboards and control panels on the two Morgan-Whyalla pipelines were installed between 1961 and 1969.

These pipelines are essential for the supply of water to the northern towns of Port Pirie, Port Augusta and Whyalla, the Bundaleer, Clare Valley and Jamestown offtakes and areas of the Eyre Peninsula. There are no direct measures for calculating the useful life of high-voltage electrical switchgear.

The need for replacement is often dictated by the capacity of the switchgear to perform the function for which it was installed. However, an investigation conducted in 2004 concluded that the Morgan-Whyalla pipeline high-voltage equipment had exceeded its life expectancy and recommended its replacement.

All others were assessed to have at least 15 years' remaining life assuming the establishment of maintenance and overhaul programs. By December 2008 it is proposed to replace eight high-voltage switchboards and eight control panels—one for each of the pumping stations on the Morgan-Whyalla pipeline. The works constitute part of SA Water's program to reduce the risks associated with operation of its major pipelines and will enhance the plant's safety reliability and ease of operation.

This project will reduce the risks associated with high-voltage switchgear ownership and its operation and is essential to ensure the ongoing viability of SA Water's business. Changing supply conditions and operating standards have made isolation of pump motors, even for non-electrical functions, comparatively complex at a time when it is becoming difficult to provide the necessary qualified staff in country locations.

Further, the age of the switchgear means that spare parts are no longer available to replace consumable items, particularly vacuum bottles for the contactors. A failure of any item may lead to failure of the associated switchboard and a prolonged outage of the entire pipeline system, leaving thousands of customers without a secure water supply. In addition, the switchgear does not comply with present-day expectations with respect to limitations of fault consequences, and even a minor fault could cause failure.

Alternatives for the connection and configuration of switchgear were shortlisted on the basis of security, cost and compliance with three considered for risk analysis. Benefits from options with isolatable sections of switchboards include enhanced security and flexibility for installation and switching of equipment. When considering installation, options which allow part of the installation to be energised whilst the rest is being installed give more flexibility during installation, requiring shorter outage times. Similar criteria apply to the capacity for extension in the future.

The selected option has an estimated cost of $10.55 million and a present value of $9.8 million and is the optimal engineering solution to mitigate the risk posed by the age of the switchboards. It is cost effective, offers a significant degree of improvement and has the lowest number of high risk items. It also has a lower cost and level of high risk in comparison to the other shortlisted option.

By protecting against water supply interruptions for up to 14 days, the project will reduce the risks associated with high-voltage equipment failure that could have significant impact upon the security of water for 38,500 customer connections, or approximately 100,000 South Australians. I am sure that there are a number of members in this house whose constituents are affected by this who will be very pleased to see the installation occur. I know that the member for Giles, in particular, is very concerned for her community—as are all other members—to ensure that they have a continuous supply of water for their constituents.

Based on the evidence it has received and considered, pursuant to section 12C of the Parliamentary Committees Act 1991, the Public Works Committee reports to parliament that it recommends the proposed public work.

Mr PENGILLY (Finniss) (11:57): The member for Norwood, the Presiding Member of the Public Works Committee, has adequately explained the benefits of upgrading this high-voltage switchboard on the Morgan-Whyalla pipeline and I endorse her remarks on the importance of it. However, I was somewhat surprised, when this matter did come to the Public Works Committee, about the length of time that it had been in place without actually having had a lot done to it. I was mightily impressed at the good work of the Playford government which put the Morgan-Whyalla pipeline in place. It lasted a very long time. It was an excellent project undertaken by the Playford government and it is still serving the people of South Australia.

It is a pity that the reality is that the current government has done absolutely nothing about providing additional water to put through that pipeline and that, along with the rest of the state, the areas in question are drying out rapidly and there is no water. I sincerely hope that the good people of Whyalla will have cause to appreciate the efforts that were made by the Playford government so many years ago. Indeed, as the member for Norwood said, this was a very necessary project. It is one of those bits of state infrastructure that you probably see when you drive past and do not think a lot about, but it is absolutely critical to the wellbeing of the people of the Upper Spencer Gulf and the City of Whyalla, which I had the pleasure of visiting a week or so ago. Whyalla is going very well.

Ms Breuer interjecting:

Mr PENGILLY: I was passing through and I had a cup of coffee in the main street, but I do have friends who live in Whyalla. As a matter of fact, the son of the member for Giles works for one of my friends. It was good to talk to them. Whyalla is going ahead extremely well at the moment, and that is good to see. As part of the Iron Triangle, Whyalla was going well, in the scheme of things, but then it went substantially downhill population-wise.

My sister used to teach up there many years ago, and then that school closed. However, Whyalla is coming back into its own, and that is excellent. I hope that the switchboard and the associated infrastructure serve the purpose and last for many years. It is a project which I heartily endorse and support.

Debate adjourned.