Public Works Committee: Barossa Water Treatment Plant Filter Refurbishment Project

Ms DIGANCE (Elder) (11:31): I move:

That the 523^rd report of the committee, entitled Barossa Water Treatment Plant Filter Refurbishment Project, be noted.

The Barossa Water Treatment Plant has a capacity of 130 megalitres per day and supplies treated water to 85,000 to 140,000 people. After 30 years of service and due to a critical flaw in the original design, it is timely to upgrade the filter systems with technology used in other Adelaide water treatment plants.

This project will include the refurbishment of the eight filters at the plant as well as removing the current concrete underdrains for each of the eight filters and replacing them with filter block underdrains. This will address the design issue that is causing turbulence and disrupting the filter media. The cost of the project is $4.970 million GST exclusive. Major work is due to commence at the end of October this year with construction works to be completed by the end of June 2016.

Given this and pursuant to section 12C of the Parliamentary Committees Act 1991, the Public Works Committee reports to parliament that it recommends the proposed public works.

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (11:32): I will make a small contribution to the 523^rd report of the Barossa Water Treatment Plant Filter Refurbishment Project. Obviously a lot of the water treatment plants that were built about 30 years ago are coming up for refurbishment, renewal, upgrades, new technologies and different types of water that is put through the treatment plant, and I think the Barossa is no different.

This upgrade is about removing and disposing of existing media, the gravel and the sand, and the compound within those filters in the seven operating banks; removing existing concrete underdrains in each of the eight filters; installing filter block underdrains and new media in all eight filters, and commissioning refurbished filters and returning filters to operation. The cost to undertake these works is estimated to be $4.970 million, and I commend the project to the house.

Ms DIGANCE (Elder) (11:33): Thank you to the member for Chaffey, who is also a member of the Public Works Committee, for contributing. This is a very worthy project and it is an essential project to the people in the area. I thank those who wrote the report which was submitted to us, and thank you to the members of the Public Works Committee.

Motion carried.