Public Works Committee: Port Lincoln Wastewater Network Capacity Upgrade Project

Ms VLAHOS (Taylor) (11:53): On behalf of the member for Elder, I move:

That the 572^nd report of the committee, entitled Port Lincoln Wastewater Network Capacity Upgrade Project, be noted.

The Port Lincoln wastewater network consists of 143 kilometres of gravity sewers and pumped pipelines and 20 sewer pumping stations. Five of these pumping stations flow into a combined rising main, which is now at capacity. There is a need to expand the network to address this and meet the future growth needs of the area both from increased residential and business connections and in particular from the seafood processing industry, and we know how important that is to our state.

SA Water proposes to duplicate the rising main with the construction of a new pipeline under Marina Drive and St Andrews Drive. The new rising main will branch off the existing main, travel around the marina and follow St Andrews Drive to the wastewater treatment plant at Billy Lights Point. In addition, there will be an upgrade of two sewer pumping stations. The total cost of these works is $5.1 million, GST exclusive. These works will reduce the operational and environmental risks from overflow and address the concerns that the current pipeline poses a crossing under the marina.

This upgrade is anticipated to accommodate the future growth of the region for the next 30 years. Work is to commence in November this year, with construction works to be completed by the end of September 2018. I wish to thank the current and past members of the Public Works Committee for their work in considering this project, and I am sure the member for Flinders will have further comments on this. Given this, and pursuant to section 12C of the Parliamentary Committees Act 1991, the Public Works Committee reports to the parliament that it recommends the proposed public works.

Mr TRELOAR (Flinders) (11:55): I am very pleased to rise today to speak on this report, not just as a member of the Public Works Committee but also as the member for Flinders. This has been a long time coming, but we are very pleased that we are almost there. The Port Lincoln wastewater network currently consists of 143 kilometres of gravity sewers and pump pipelines, as well as 20 sewer pumping stations (SPS). Five of these SPS pump into a combined rising main, which crosses under the Port Lincoln marina twice. This main is at capacity and the network needs to be expanded to meet the long-term growth needs of the area, both from increased residential connections and businesses, in particular from the seafood industry and processes.

This project will improve environmental compliance by eliminating overflow risks, and reduce operational risks at the marina crossing, accommodate future growth for approximately the next 30 years, and assist industry to meet its environmental compliance. It was determined that option 1 has the lowest net present value after the base case, noting that the base case does not meet the project objectives. It has an overall capital expenditure of $5.144 million, excluding GST. The expenditure is included in SA Water's approved regulatory business proposal for 2016-20. It will not have an impact on the general government net operating result.

There was just one proposal from the broader community, and that was from SA Water. It falls under the policy guidelines adopted by the Public Works Committee for project hearing requirements, which fall before the committee when it qualifies for ministerial approval and it is in the threshold of $4 million and less than $11 million. I am really pleased that this has come to fruition. I have spoken many times about water security on Eyre Peninsula. I think this contributes to that ongoing security because this project is not just about dealing with wastewater from both residential and industrial uses. It also has the potential to complement and provide further water, if not to a potable level, at least to a standard possibly suitable for irrigation or industrial use.

If at some point in the future infrastructure expenditure can see its way clear to pumping to the top of Winters Hill, getting it over the hill and out of Port Lincoln, it opens up all sorts of opportunities, as I said, for irrigation or, beyond that, into industrial use. One of the challenges for the seafood industry in Port Lincoln, particularly the processing part of that sector, was dealing with their wastewater, which generally has quite a high saline content. Of course, that has to be managed, and much effort has been made over many years into getting that to an appropriate level to be able to deal with.

It is far better to do that than restrict the processing of our most famous product—the tuna fish and the general fishing industry of Port Lincoln—and I am very pleased that this is about to begin. The infrastructure work will begin in November 2017, which is just next month, and it is expected to take about 12 months to be in place. I think it really indicates confidence in the City of Port Lincoln and the area surrounding Lower Eyre Peninsula, and it highlights its opportunity for growth and ongoing industrial development.

Motion carried.