Tod Reservoir

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (14:37): Thanks for your answer, minister. How long will the reservoir be decommissioned for? What is the time frame for the repair of the dam wall?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Climate Change) (14:38): I am just seeing if I can find an answer for the honourable member whilst I am on my feet and I will just read out a few notes while I am doing that. As a result of the upgrade for SA Water's 2014 Dam Portfolio Risk Assessment, the Tod River Dam Safety Project will upgrade the outlet to increase the ability of the dam to resist flooding, earthquakes and leaks in accordance with the ANCOLD (Australian National Committee on Large Dams) guidelines, as I said earlier.

The project has undergone significant risk assessments, options assessments and financial analysis which support the current proposal as the optimum solution in terms of cost to the community and prudent management of dam safety. From a flooding point of view, those most affected by a safety incident at the dam would be SA Water staff, owners of land downstream and the township of Poonindie.

SA Water customers over large parts of Eyre Peninsula could also be affected by a loss of water supply for an extended period should any flooding affect the Tod pump station and major pipelines to the east and west coasts. I understand this project budget is being finalised and it is expected to have a budget of approximately $7 million, I am advised. Pending approvals, work is expected to commence in mid-2016 and will take, I am advised, approximately six months to complete.