News Archive

September 2016

30 September 2016
Infrastructure upgrade serves up irrigator benefits
Irrigators in Victoria's north west are set to save at least 7GL of water a year thanks to a once-in-a-century infrastructure upgrade. The $120 million Sunraysia Modernisation Project will also give around ...

30 September 2016
Aussie water professionals lead world congress
The world’s water leaders will be gathering in Brisbane this October 9 -14 for the World Water Congress & Exhibition, with the week-long event offering Australians the opportunity to show off their ...

29 September 2016
Deluge brings NSW agriculture mixed outcomes
New South Wales has waded through the wettest August in 13 years and rainfall may well continue, bringing some agricultural producers adverse results. In areas of the state's Northern Tablelands ...

29 September 2016
Water utility tech set to transform domestic resource monitoring
South East Water is unveiling a range of new innovations within its monitor-and-control telemetry device, OneBox, including integration of gas and electricity data, rainwater storage control and water ...

28 September 2016
Sydney’s sewage outfalls worth $2 billion in social value
Sydney Water has saved residents 180,000 annual sick days and provided $2 billion in social value since decommissioning its cliff-face sewage outfalls in the early 1990s, a Deloitte Access Economic ...

28 September 2016
Decentralised wastewater system guide released for utilities
Australian water utilities considering installing decentralised water and wastewater systems now have a comprehensive resource to help decision making. A new Water Research Australia report outlines ...

27 September 2016
Cultural diversity key to strengthening water businesses
Diversifying the water industry isn’t all about gender, according to one of sector’s leading managers, with cultural variety and inclusion just as important to strengthening workplaces. Cardno Business Unit ...

27 September 2016
Real-time water data implementation on the rise
The water industry now has access to highly sophisticated online water quality monitoring schemes, but is not necessarily making the most of them. To improve outcomes, a team of industry experts has spent the ...

26 September 2016
International water-related tension set to rise
Whether it’s restive negotiations over surface and groundwater sources, or diplomatic strain born of climate-induced migration, international relations are in for a challenging time ahead of an uncertain water future ...

23 September 2016
Drought counselling for Queensland farmers
Queensland farmers recovering from drought can now access to expanded counselling services. Federal Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources Barnaby Joyce has announced an additional $120,000 in ...

23 September 2016
Federal Government assistance for flood-affected regions
Disaster assistance is being provided to flood victims in 34 Victorian and South Australian local government areas. Caused by the heaviest September rainfall in a century, flood water across west Victoria have ...

22 September 2016
Draft NSW floodplain management plan open for public comment
A plan to help streamline flood works approvals in New South Wales' Upper Namoi Valley is open for public comment. The draft Upper Namoi Valley Floodplain Management Plan is the second of six floodplain ...

22 September 2016
Utility pipe replacement wins accolade
The challenge of replacing a 150-year-old water main under one of Melbourne's busiest streets has earned South East Water (SEW) and its construction contractor, Interflow, a major accolade. The St Kilda Road ...

21 September 2016
Water efficiency labelling ramps up offering
Australia has its first registered four-star showers and six-star toilets following updates to the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) scheme. Until recently, the maximum possible rating for showers ...

21 September 2016
Queensland proposes stricter groundwater extraction laws
Resource companies could face tougher environmental laws for groundwater extraction under a Queensland Government proposal. Environment Minister Dr Steven Miles said the proposed laws would give the ...

20 September 2016
Regeneration efforts to boost Anglesea River
Water will again flow into the Anglesea River in a summer trial which, if successful, could continue until a long-term management plan is secured. For almost 50 years, Victoria’s Alcoa power station pumped ...

20 September 2016
Grant initiative bolsters Queensland irrigation
Broadacre irrigators in Queensland's Murray-Darling Basin can now apply for federal funding for applications ranging from water flow meters to irrigation system redesign. The grants are part of the third and ...

19 September 2016
Water shortages a major factor for refugee flows
Water challenges are a contributing “push factor” to refugee flows from Syria, which the global community should take seriously far beyond the Middle East. That's one of the key messages from the Stockholm ...

19 September 2016
Customer-first outlook key to successful infrastructure
Water utilities have work to do in achieving higher customer perception and satisfaction, but the good news is there’s plenty of opportunity for those prepared to embrace an innovative mindset. A recent survey ...

16 September 2016
Community engagement should be at the heart of water advocacy
Travelling is a great opportunity to experience different cultures and relax with friends and family. A recent experience of mine has been a trip to Vanuatu. In addition to the continuous friendly smiles received ...

16 September 2016
TasWater initiates water-quality planning for 24 towns
TasWater is setting up a project execution team to deliver on its promise to remove all towns from permanent boil-water alerts or public health alerts within two years. The ambitious plan will accelerate the overhaul ...

16 September 2016
Australian Drinking Water Guidelines to be expanded
The National Health and Medical Research Council is expanding microbial health based targets in a draft framework to be added to the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. Microbial health-based targets give a ...

16 September 2016
Water sector overdue for pricing model switch
Regulatory pricing models that are customer-centred and give water businesses greater autonomy are the way of the future, according to a leading Australian economist. Synergies Director Martin van Bueren ...

15 September 2016
Industry collaboration develops new digital metering risk tool
Victorian corporations have banded together to develop a risk assessment tool for those looking to introduce digital water meters. The Digital Metering Risk Assessment Tool (DMRAT), developed by Intelligent Water ...

15 September 2016
Tassie water management system in the spotlight
The integrated water management system used at Tasmanian Irrigation's Meander Dam has made the finals of the state's Australian Engineering Excellence Awards. The system was developed by Entura to provide ...

14 September 2016
Bottled water levy on cards for global sanitation
If we collected one cent for every litre of bottled water sold worldwide we could make massive progress towards achieving the United Nation’s global development goal on water and sanitation. That's the concept ...

14 September 2016
Stakeholders call for Murray-Darling Basin Review disclosure
Calls are mounting for the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) to release its full analysis of the Basin Plan's social and economic impact on northern communities. The National Farmers’ Federation and Cotton ...

13 September 2016
Coral sample study links reef health to water quality
Cores drilled from corals dating back thousands of years are providing important insights into the positive and negative impacts of human settlement on the Great Barrier Reef. By studying coral samples, QLD ...

13 September 2016
NSW dam investigation seeks strategic partnership
Investigations into a potential new dam in central west New South Wales are entering phase two, with WaterNSW calling for tenders to assist. The second phase of the Lachlan Valley Priority Catchment Water ...

12 September 2016
Water prices to plummet in Murray-Darling Basin
The price of water traded in the Murray-Darling Basin is tipped to decrease dramatically this financial year in response to strong winter rainfall. Aither published its annual water markets report and Director Chris ...

12 September 2016
Future Water CRC: funding within sight
Australian water security research may be in for a decade-long boost with the bid for a Future Water Cooperative Research Centre shortlisted for Federal Government funding. If funded, the FWCRC would aim ...

9 September 2016
Recycled wastewater bolsters biodiesel project
Wastewater may be fuelling the cars of the future, in a roundabout way. Queensland Urban Utilities is using treated wastewater to irrigate almost 4000 pongamia trees at its Boonah and Toogoolawah sewage ...

9 September 2016
Riverine recovery underway in South Australia
South Australia’s River Murray wetlands will soon benefit from new management infrastructure and scientific monitoring support. State and federal governments have approved the next phase of the Riverine ...

8 September 2016
New crawler tech reduces risk to water utility employees
Remote controlled ultrasonic technology, known as a 'crawler', may be rolled out across Western Australia in a bid to improve safety for water utility employees. Water Corporation used the technology for ...

8 September 2016
ACT catchment clean up for Murray-Darling Basin
Canberra is working to drastically reduce the volume of pollutants that make their way from the city's suburbs into the Murray-Darling Basin. The ACT Healthy Waterways (Basin Project) aims to intercept ...

7 September 2016
Waste-to-energy saves water utility thousands
One of East Gippsland Water's wastewater treatment plants will soon be generating up to 130% of its onsite energy needs, saving more than $50,000 a year in electricity bills alone. Bairnsdale Wastewater ...

7 September 2016
Aussie water tech noted for global potential
Three water technology companies have been listed among 38 Australian firms considered to have the greatest global potential. The Australian Technologies Competition (ATC) finds mentors to develop ...

6 September 2016
New flood works plan starting to bear fruit in NSW
Landholders across northern parts of the Murray-Darling Basin are starting to benefit from a streamlined flood works approval process. The Gwydir Valley Floodplain Management Plan is the first of six floodplain...

6 September 2016
Water utility wins major project management accolade
Western Australia's largest water utility has been recognised for its excellence in project management at the Australian Business Awards. Water Corporation picked up the project management gong for its ...

5 September 2016
Gender diversity pivotal to utilities’ successful innovation
Gender diversity within all levels of business is crucial for successful innovation, according to one of Australia’s most senior water chiefs, and utilities must first find ways to support female talent or risk being ...

5 September 2016
National focus needed to protect Great Artesian Basin
It underpins almost $13 billion in economic output annually but the Great Artesian Basin is suffering from fragmented regulation and limited understanding, with leading experts urging for ongoing national support ...

2 September 2016
New South Wales to host Australia’s second floating solar installation
Lismore will become the second Australian council to install floating solar panels at a wastewater facility, and it's using an unusual funding model to do so. Suntrix Commercial has been contracted to construct ...

2 September 2016
Funding up for grabs for young water innovators
A share in $240,000 worth of grants is up for grabs for Australia's young agricultural scientists, innovators and researchers. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources Barnaby ...

1 September 2016
Queensland desalination expected to rise
The Gold Coast desalination plant could be in regular use by 2019, according to its operator. The Tugun plant, capable of producing 125ML a day, has just been used to supplement south-east Queensland ...

1 September 2016
Tasmania flood repairs cost utility millions
TasWater is facing an estimated $25 million dollar repair bill after June floods left considerable damage to water and sewerage infrastructure across the state. The corporation expects it will take up to 12 ....