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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2024-06-27 Daily Xml
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Public Works Committee: Pimbaacla Water Tank Project

Mr BROWN (Florey) (11:18): I move:

That the 77th report of the committee, entitled Pimbaacla Water Tank Project, be noted.

The South Australian Water Corporation (SA Water) proposes to rehabilitate the existing water storage tank at Pimbaacla to ensure reliability of the water supply to existing customers in the region. The Pimbaacla water storage tank is located approximately 100 kilometres south-east of Ceduna and is a critical asset to the water supply in the Western Eyre Peninsula region, servicing the townships of Ceduna, Smoky Bay and surrounding areas. With a capacity of approximately nine megalitres, it supplies nearly 3,000 customers. Built in 1967, the 56-year-old concrete water tank has structural defects that require addressing to reduce the risk of tank roof collapse and accelerated leakage. The current water tank is situated on Crown land designated for SA Water use.

The key aim of the project is to ensure the long-term viability and delivery of reliable baseline services to existing customers. This will be achieved by the rehabilitation of the tank roof and associated support structure as well as the installation of a new access structure to facilitate safe maintenance and inspection activities, including the rehabilitation of the tank's concrete structure.

The decision was made to restore the existing tank rather than construct a new tank of equivalent size. This will extend the life of the tank for 40 years and was chosen as a cost-effective, sustainable and productive solution. It is more favourable in environmental terms compared with building a new tank as there will be minimal impact to the existing structure. The option of building a new tank also presented challenges, as the construction window would only be open during the off-peak supply period in winter and would require a longer construction time.

The cost of the project is $8.5 million, with project construction scheduled to occur during the third and fourth quarters of this year. The project will be managed in accordance with SA Water's project management methodology by a project manager from its capital planning and delivery group. Additionally, SA Water has a business risk management policy used to identify risks and determine their related impacts as well as develop mitigation strategies to remedy problems.

This policy and framework will be applied over the course of the project. Key risk management strategies include the rehabilitation of the tank structure to mitigate potential tank failures that could adversely affect customers' water supply; tank roof ventilation and internal rehabilitation undertaken to enable the current stage of tank improvement, resulting in improved water quality for customers; and construction of new access points to the tank structure to comply with current work, health and safety standards and reduce these risks at the current tank site.

SA Water has a commitment to operating sustainably to support viability now and into the future. An environmental control plan has been prepared to ensure that the project is delivered in compliance with relevant legislative frameworks. In compliance with the Native Vegetation Act, approval will be sought for the clearance of native education within the works area and appropriate protection measures will be put in place to protect surrounding vegetation from off-target damage.

Regarding water flow, sediment and drainage management, all reasonable and practical measures will be implemented to prevent pollution and environmental harm. Construction and laydown zones will be appropriately established to minimise the potential for surface run-off to enter the site alongside controls used to minimise potential for run-off to leave the site. Stockpile and laydown areas will be designated away from drainage lines or low-lying areas, while disturbed or unsealed areas will be compacted, backfilled and resurfaced as soon as possible.

Discharges associated with the commissioning of the tank will be undertaken in line with SA Water's best practice operating procedure for water-affecting activities. The existing embankment around the tank will need to be removed and reformed with new material, with the contractor to ensure that all spoil is managed in line with the Environment Protection Authority's waste-derived fill requirements.

The project has been assessed by an Aboriginal heritage adviser and has been given a medium risk of impacting or encountering heritage, as SA Water recognises any ground-disturbing activity presents a risk of encountering Aboriginal objects or remains. In the unlikely event of heritage being uncovered, the project will follow SA Water's standard operating procedures for the discovery of Aboriginal heritage, with work ceasing immediately and an Aboriginal heritage and engagement adviser being contacted.

Native title implications have been reviewed and have been determined to be extinguished, provided the infrastructure and construction work remain within the gazetted road reserves and within previously disturbed corridors through SA Water-owned land parcels and subject land parcels. If project works were to impact land that may be subject to native title, native title holders and registered native title claimants will be notified.

The rehabilitation work will be predominantly confined to the existing infrastructure site location. Nonetheless, communication with relevant stakeholders and landowners will be ongoing throughout the project. There is an inactive train station at Pimbaacla, located near the construction area, and SA Water will consult with the Department for Infrastructure and Transport prior to commencement to ensure that the appropriate level of traffic management is implemented.

The committee examined written and oral evidence in relation to the Pimbaacla water tank project. Witnesses who appeared before the committee were Mario Borrello, Portfolio Manager, SA Water, and Jasmine Rahmanzadeh Kabir, Project Manager, SA Water. I thank the witnesses for their time.

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

Motion carried.

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