WATERLINES ISSUE 1, 2021 - Supporting communities to succeed - Water Technology
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WATERLINES
ISSUE 1, 2021
Supporting communities to succeed
STEVE CLARK
Managing Director Welcome to our latest
issue of Waterlines
Hello, and welcome to Water Technology's first Waterlines of 2021!
From where we're standing today, I find myself looking back and
thinking about how I am so incredibly proud of this company and
everyone's efforts in water management, rehabilitation and building
community resilience throughout an extraordinarily challenging
(both professionally and personally) 2020. I have found our teams’
unparalleled sense of hard work, team spirit, and selfless dedication
to clients and project outcomes to be genuinely inspiring. I have
every confidence that we will only continue on this path throughout
this year.
In the following pages, I'd like to share with you a brief look into some of the
unique projects and challenging scenarios the team has faced, along with their
powerful approaches to finding and implementing solutions to support and
protect vulnerable communities. Water Technology staff pride themselves on
discovering and implementing real, actionable solutions and improving the world
around them wherever they go. I can think of no more straightforward way to
show that than by inviting you to read the team's exploits in action for yourself
and in their own words.
Featured in this edition:
• Billabong and wetland rehabilitation;
• Supporting indigenous communities; and
• An investigation of managed aquifier recharge viability to improve
water security in Sri Lanka.
Please do not hesitate to contact me or any of the Water Technology team at any
stage if we can be of assistance.
2 WATERLINES : ISSUE 1, 2021
Live Data Monitoring is
Transforming Data
IN THE REMOTE PILBARA
Australia's remote north-west is home to some of the country's most
significant resource projects, including iron ore, natural gas and salt/
potash. However, it is also an area of limited flood measurement data, with
expansive areas being represented by a minimal number of rain gauges
and streamflow gauges, meaning that there is little information available to
validate flood models for design purposes.
Recent advances in communications technology have helped break down the
data collection barriers in this remote area, with low power instruments and cost-
efficient satellite communication now making it possible to install equipment in
remote areas with no 3G network. This requires only infrequent visits to the sites
for maintenance, where physical access to the site is quite often limited.
One such example of this innovative approach is the LoRaWAN technology
delivered by Perth-based technology company Simply City, enabling hundreds
of instruments to wirelessly communicate with a single satellite gateway. The
LoRaWAN hubs can communicate over many kilometres and use a very low
energy signal, allowing the portal to operate for over a year using a small battery.
The FLEET satellite gateway logs all incoming data and transmits it via satellite
to an online database, which is then made available to the end user via a live
web portal.
There is truly no limit to the types of instruments that can be connected to
these networks, including rain gauges, weather stations, streamflow gauges
and groundwater loggers – really, anything that can communicate on an SDI12
platform. The FLEET satellite network promises to deliver significantly reduced
costs for satellite transmission over the next few years, thus enabling more
frequent transmissions and potentially larger packets of data.
Water Technology is partnering with Simply City to deliver remote monitoring
capabilities to some of our major clients in the Pilbara.
Find out more: Ashburton Salt - Stronger with Salt
.
For more information, contact
+61 8 6555 0105 , Scott Wills
(scott.wills@watertech.com.au)
WATERLINES : ISSUE 1, 2021 3
Hydrogeologist
steps out from the dark
Initially drawn to geology through photos of Yosemite National Park in
high school (yes, photos existed back then), Andrew studied Applied
Geology at university and became particularly engaged in hydrogeology.
Now, having worked in the industry for the last 35 years, Andrew Telfer is
a highly regarded Senior Principal Hydrogeologist on the eve of taking a
well-earned break.
A well-earned long For more information,
contact +61 8 8378 8000
service leave break Rohan Baird
(rohan.baird@watertech.com.au)
4 WATERLINES : ISSUE 1, 2021
Andrew began his career at the Engineering and Water a range of groundwater engineering projects to great
Supply Department (now SA Water) before moving into effect.
consulting and founding Australian Water Environments
Andrew is an 'ideas person'. This blue-sky thinking has
(AWE) in 1998 with Nick Watkins (and later, Geoff Fisher).
enabled the hydrogeology team to work on a wide variety
AWE was born out of a desire to make things happen,
of exciting and innovative projects. He has helped create
tackle new challenges and pursue interesting work. In 2017,
a workplace that has been productive, challenging and
AWE joined forces with Water Technology to expand AWE's
always with access to good coffee. Andrew is generous
groundwater and natural resource management capabilities
with his time and knowledge, and his enthusiasm
into the rest of Australia and connect with a larger pool of
is contagious. Andrew also encourages debate and
like-minded individuals with powerful water management
a group approach to problem-solving, recognising
capabilities.
that considering multiple viewpoints and approaches
Andrew has dedicated much of his career to managing produces better results.
salinity along the Lower River Murray through the creation
Although Andrew is taking a well-earned break, part of his
of Salt Interception Schemes (SISs), and the efficiency of
legacy is the strong hydrogeology team he has built, now
Andrew's work is demonstrated through his success in this
led by Rohan Baird (mining), and including Craig Flavel
competitive field. His schemes' total value exceeds $250m,
(MAR) and Alison Charles (salinity), who will continue to
and as a result of these and other measures River Murray
deliver positive project outcomes in the groundwater
salinity has been reduced by 25%. Additionally, SISs were
space while he is away. Andrew will be back, refreshed,
instrumental in maintaining useable water quality for South
with even more to explore later this year.
Australians during the Millennium Drought.
Andrew has demonstrated leadership and
innovation in salinity management, recognising
the secondary benefits of SISs in improving
floodplain ecological outcomes and managing
salt in the landscape.
With all the large-scale SIS borefields built and
operational, Andrew has more recently applied
his skills toward solving other challenging
groundwater and salinity problems in the
agriculture, mining and construction sectors.
He specialises in recognising patterns in data,
identifying correlations and assessing their
causality. This expertise has been applied to
WATERLINES : ISSUE 1, 2021 5
St Peters Billabong rehabilitation
“
St Peters Billabong is a valued community and
ecological asset in St Peters, South Australia. The
Restore and preserve the billabong was part of the Torrens River, which was
isolated when the main channel was straightened
unique native habitat of to the west in 1978, and flows were diverted from
Second Creek.
St Peters Billabong By the late 1990s, the billabong had accumulated up
to 1.5 metres of unconsolidated sediment and organic
load that had severely impacted the health of the aquatic
system. Rehabilitation works were commissioned
in the early 2000s but had been unsuccessful, with
significant organic loads bypassing the GPT and being
deposited in the billabong.
In 2009, further work was completed to partially
remove the accumulated organic material from the
sediment basin. An additional review indicated the
billabongs potential to be converted to a groundwater-
fed system with no inflows from Second Creek.
Detailed rehabilitation plans based on a groundwater-
only system were developed in 2013 and split into 2
stages, with the first stage focussing on isolating the
billabong from Second Creek.
For Stage 2, Water Technology was engaged by the
Natural Resources Management Board to deliver the
rehabilitation works. Following a detailed review of the
site history and more recent water quality monitoring
Billabong before the rehabilitation works results, it was deemed beneficial to conduct a new
6 WATERLINES : ISSUE 1, 2021
The billabong after the rehabilitation works
round of water quality monitoring and of protective netting occurred in late
trial plantings. The first stage in the 2020. Although some grazing has been
process was establishing field trials noted, there has not been a significant
that included a range of species and degradation in the coverage of fringe
netted and unnetted quadrats across macrophytes, and the effective biomass
the billabong. These quadrats were and regenerative capacity exceed the
frequently monitored, and at the end anticipated loss.
of the trial period, the nets over the
The project has successfully provided
protected quadrats were removed to
a low impact solution that maximises
confirm the likely impacts on grazing.
nature based approaches and utilises
Early results were encouraging, existing infrastructure. This is opposed
suggesting that the billabong could be to major disturbing activities such as
stabilised through appropriate species dredging and filling across large areas,
selection incorporating more rigid, which was the previous focus of Stage
emergent macrophytes that provide 2. Water Technology worked closely
physical protection for smaller, more with the Friends of the Billabong group
delicate species. to maintain a positive relationship
and build capacity within the group
Water Technology oversaw the planting
to continue effectively monitoring the
and civil works' delivery, including Monitoring and trial revegetation
billabong. Key representatives with the
installation of a water level controller
Natural Resources Management Board
and reinstatement of the corroded
with detailed knowledge of this project
southern billabong outlet structure.
recognise its success and have stated
The project reached practical the billabong is in the best condition it
completion in December 2019 and the has been for many decades.
end of the defects period in December
For more information +61 8 8378 8000
2020. Vegetation coverage has
Ben Taylor (ben.taylor@watertech.com.au)
exceeded expectations. The removal
WATERLINES : ISSUE 1, 2021 7
CONSTRUCTION OF A LEVEE TO
Combat Warracknabeal Flooding
Ten years after one of the worst floods in Warracknabeal's history,
the Warracknabeal Levee has finally been completed
In January 2011, Warracknabeal experienced a flood design was distilled into an easily understood and visualised
exceeding a 1% AEP event (a 1-in-100-year event). At the product that the community could digest and support.
time, Yarriambiack Shire Council and the Warracknabeal Upon successfully completing the levee design, the same
community worked 24 hours a day to construct a project team drafted and applied for funding to construct the
temporary levee, approximately 6 km in length, to stop levee and successfully received $732,000 from Federal and
floodwaters from inundating the town. State governments to build the levee.
The Warracknabeal and Brim Flood Investigation was In 2019, Yarriambiack Shire Council and Water Technology
finalised in 2014, quantifying the potential damage that could worked toward finalising the levee design, incorporating
have occurred in 2011 (both above and below floor flooding sections of a temporary levee and a concrete retaining wall
of more than 100 buildings) and developing detailed designs to ensure that the optimum solution was found. The levee's
for a permanent levee to protect Warracknabeal. The project construction was tendered in late 2019, with the project
was led by Wimmera CMA and Yarriambiack Shire Council, being awarded to S and R Engineering. Yarriambiack Shire
with Water Technology serving as the technical lead, and Council and Water Technology collaboratively supervised the
receiving input from the Bureau of Meteorology, VicSES construction of the levee through early 2020. They developed
and the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water a Flood Response Plan in the latter part of the year, defining
and Planning – who funded the project through their Natural the actions that Council and emergency response services
Disaster Resilience Grants Scheme. should both undertake when faced with the prediction of an
impending flood event.
In 2016, the project won a Highly Commended Award at
the Australian Floodplain Management Conference for "The Water Technology would like to thank and commend
methodology undertaken, combined with the subsequent Yarriambiack Shire Council, Wimmera CMA,
community support to construct the recommended levee, S and R Engineering, as well as the Warracknabeal
is a testament to efforts of all involved in the investigation community, on a terrific project which will benefit them for
and highlights the project's local and regional significance to many years to come.
flood risk management".
The levee design and proposed height were well
For more information contact
communicated to the public through a comprehensive
+61 3 8526 0800 Ben Hughes
community engagement campaign. The technical levee
(ben.hughes@watertech.com.au)
8 WATERLINES : ISSUE 1, 2021
Indigenous communities
self-determination through
RENEWABLES
Ramahyuck District Aboriginal Corporation (RDAC) is a leading primary health, social
and family support services provider for Aboriginal people in the Gippsland region,
whose services are currently almost entirely reliant on government funding. This could all
change, however, with 16 hectares of farmland at Longford (Victoria) now being proposed
to house a 5 MW solar farm, which would supply renewable energy powering around
2,000 households and provide an independent income stream for the RDAC.
Water Technology has supported this proposal by assessing the flood risk of the site and
proposing appropriate design and risk mitigation solutions. This work was completed in
collaboration with Point Advisory, a leading sustainability services firm. Ramahyuck lists the
following benefits to the project:
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment and training opportunities in the fast-
growing renewable energy sector.
• Aboriginal self-determination through control over income stream from investment in
Aboriginal-owned land.
• The Ramahyuck solar farm has the potential to be a template for other Indigenous
organisations around the country.
Water Technology is proud to continue its support for the renewable energy industry
in Australia, helping our clients to develop sustainable solar and wind projects. We are
particularly excited about this project, which offers an opportunity for self-determination for
the RDAC, and could be used as a template for other indigenous organisations around the
country in the future.
For more information, contact
+61 3 8526 0800,
Ben Tate (ben.tate@watertech.com.au)
Celine Marchenay (celine.marchenay@watertech.com.au)
WATERLINES : ISSUE 1, 2021 9
IMPROVING WATER SECURITY
in Sri Lanka
In July 2017, the Water Resources concept viability in Sri Lanka. The The two dominant aquifers in Sri Lanka
Board (WRB) of Sri Lanka requested project identified 'big picture' matters are within the weathered regolith of the
Water Technology's involvement in and provided conceptual pilot designs metamorphic rock, which comprises
improving the nation's freshwater for informing subsequent feasibility most of the island, and the karstic
security. studies for trials and roll-out, including limestone aquifers around Sri Lanka's
a framework for quickly identifying northern margins. Coastal sand and
The Australian Water Partnership
areas of available underground laterite aquifers of a limited extent also
supported Water Technology's advice
water storage and improving water occur. Water Technology identified
to the Sri Lankan Government from
management. sites that typify each of the regolith
December 2018 to November 2020.
and limestone aquifers, located within
Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) was A three-phase program was
areas of potable water shortage.
being considered to aid their water constructed as follows:
security needs. Hydrogeologists Multiple factors, such as storage
• Phase 1 - pre-feasibility studies
Andrew Telfer and Craig Flavel, availability and capacity, water harvest
to determine an environment's
specialising in MAR, investigated timing and stakeholder needs, and
suitability for trialling MAR, such
the purposeful recharge of available economic viability, were essential
as mapping water scarcity,
surface water to an aquifer for later considerations during the MAR
assessing the hydrogeological
reuse or environmental benefit. A screening and feasibility project with
environment and identifying
feasible MAR scheme depends on a the Sri Lankan Government.
relevant government stakeholders.
suitable hydrogeological context to
• Phase 2 and 3 - multi-phase trials
provide economically viable water
of MAR, will involving community
storage.
interaction and being implemented
The national MAR screening project to demonstrate increased water For more information, contact
was the first step in developing a security. +61 8 8378 8000 Craig Flavel
scheme to demonstrate proof of (craig.flavel@watertech.com.au)
10 WATERLINES : ISSUE 1, 2021NEWS
Tom Atkin
A huge thank-you to those clients who participated in
the Beaton Client Choice Awards. With over 20 years'
Dimantina River, Victoria
experience, we pride ourselves on offering exceptional
solutions in surface water, groundwater, coastal and
waterway management across Australia. Your valuable
insights are what truly empowers us to provide superior
outcomes and outstanding service year after year.
The Client Choice Awards, and Beaton's supporting
research, bring about robust, independent and insightful
benchmarking and real, tangible feedback to our activities.
In the next edition of Waterlines, we are going to share with
you the results (based on our valued clients' needs) of our
business focus for 2021.
Jamie Kaye
If you have any questions about the Award or further
feedback, please email our Client Success Team:
ClientSuccessTeam@watertech.com.au
Techer Travels
Barmah Moira Grass & Exclosure Monitoring
Jamie Kaye
WATERLINES : ISSUE 1, 2021 11Career shaping flood experience
was a member of Southern Group, at the influence over my career choices and
time, but never requested any help. Over working as a flood engineer. I certainly
the next week, however, hundreds more have more respect now for the great
James Weidmann people would come and lend a hand responsibilities and consequences of our
Senior Water Engineer to us and our neighbours, carrying out work. And now, for me, undertaking flood
ruined possessions and cleaning up the assessments and contributing to flood risk
immense amount of mud. A doctor rode management projects is just that little bit
A little over ten years ago, in January
his bicycle around the mud-covered streets more satisfying.
2011, large areas of Queensland found
and distributed tetanus shots, volunteers
themselves experiencing a devastating
selflessly provided food and water for the
act of flooding – and over three days, I
helpers, and people we'd never met before
would watch the Brisbane River engulf
in our lives carried mud-caked carpet out
my family home at Yeronga. As the
of our house. I'll be forever grateful.
floodwaters rose, we would spend
the day evacuating and watching as Two weeks after the floods, and with the
countless jetties and moorings from house thoroughly gutted, there came
upstream (some with outdoor tables a knock at my door from yet another
and jet skis still attached) raced past total stranger. They were carrying in their
helplessly. We could see the ferocity hands a photo frame they had found while Btw: Mum and Dad now live on level 36 of
and relentlessness of the approaching cleaning up Nudgee Beach, and they had an apartment building in the city.
floodwaters, and we knew that there tracked me down from my name written on
was nothing we could do to stop it. the back of one of the photos. The photo
had been downstairs at the end of the
As traumatising as the experience was
house, made its way out with the receding
(especially for my Mum), it was truly
water, and then travelled 45 kilometres
phenomenal to witness – and would become
downstream and out of the river mouth
particularly inspiring in the following weeks.
before finally settling on the beach.
On the first day of the clean-up, a group of
SES volunteers turned up at my house. I Clearly, the experience had a tremendous
Office Locations
MELBOURNE SYDNEY BRISBANE ADELAIDE
(Head Office) Level 1, 20 Wentworth Street Level 5, 43 Peel Street 1/198 Greenhill Road
15 Business Park Drive Parramatta South Brisbane Eastwood
Notting Hill VIC 3168 NSW 2124 QLD 4101 SA 5063
+61 3 8526 0800 +61 2 8080 7346 +61 7 3105 1460 +61 8 8378 8000
PERTH WANGARATTA GEELONG WIMMERA
430 Roberts Road 40 Rowan Street 51 Little Fyans Street 597 Joel South Road
Subiaco Wangaratta Geelong Stawell VIC 3380
WA 6904 VIC 3677 VIC 3220 +61 3 8526 0838
+61 8 6555 0105 +61 3 5721 2650 +61 3 8526 0821
GOLD COAST NEW ZEALAND EMAIL: info@watertech.com.au
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Varsity Lakes QLD 4227 Cambridge NZ 3434
HydroNET: hydronet@watertech.com.au
+61 7 5676 7602 +64 27 777 0989
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