The start of SA Water’s renewal of the Morgan to Whyalla Pipeline has been postponed to 2023, with the utility prioritising additional environmental monitoring to help protect a newly-listed threatened native flora and fauna community.
Some sections of the pipeline planned for replacement are within the Mallee Bird Community of the Murray Darling Depression Bioregion, which was recently listed as a new Threatened Ecological Community by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).
The Mallee Bird Community is a group of 20 bird species, including the Malleefowl and Black-eared Minor. They are now considered Nationally Endangered and dependent on large areas of intact mallee vegetation. Habitat loss is one of the main factors for its listing.
SA Water’s Senior Manager of Capital Delivery, Peter Seltsikas, said the temporary pause would provide time to complete an environmental assessment to minimise any potential impact.
“This is the first project in the area that needs to consider the threatened community. We want to deliver an important infrastructure upgrade underpinned by ecological preservation,” Seltsikas said.
“With the listing happening after pipeline project design, planning and procurement were underway. We had to quickly change our approach and do the right thing for our customers and the environment.
Morgan to Whyalla pipeline enhances environmental monitoring
“We’re now carefully working through an assessment process with various field investigations and spatial monitoring. We expect to complete and submit it to DCCEEW later this year.
“By looking at sections of the pipeline in low-risk areas first, such as land cleared for farming, we will keep the project moving as they’ll become the focus for the current renewal program.
“To plan for future renewal stages, our work will consider the entire 358 kilometres of the pipeline – ensuring we have a holistic overview right up front, better to inform our construction plan across the 40-year project.”
Seltsikas said connecting with local businesses is important in delivering the renewal project.
“As we get closer to construction, we’ll touch base with interested businesses to understand how they can support the project. That might be accommodation, catering, or construction services,” Seltsikas said.
“Importantly, a reliable water supply to our customers remains secure. Regular maintenance and inspections of the pipeline will ensure it can continue servicing our regional network.”
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