Site work begins on Northern Adelaide Irrigation Scheme infrastructure
09 November 2017
SA Government: Preliminary site works started this week for infrastructure upgrades to SA Water’s Bolivar Wastewater Treatment Plant, enabling 12 gigalitres (GL) per year of high quality, climate-independent recycled water for a new intensive food production zone north of Adelaide.
Crews have begun geotechnical investigations and surveys to inform detailed design and planning for the major construction activity which is scheduled to begin from April 2018.
The $155.6 million Northern Adelaide Irrigation Scheme (NAIS) will see new water treatment facilities built within the Bolivar precinct to increase its production of recycled irrigation water to 60 per cent.
Treated water storage facilities, pump stations, pressurised transfer pipelines and a distribution network to deliver water north of the Gawler River, will also be built.
This foundational site activity ensures the project is on schedule to deliver its first water to customers in 2019.
Background
Bolivar Wastewater Treatment Plant is SA Water’s largest wastewater facility, and treats around 60 per cent of Metropolitan Adelaide’s sewage, which is an average of 157 million litres a day, or 1800 litres per second.
The NAIS is jointly funded by the South Australian and Australian Governments, and is being developed in partnership by SA Water and Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA).
The scheme will create an estimated 3700 jobs and add more than $500 million a year to the State’s economy.
A commercial process seeking project proposals from agribusinesses across Australia and internationally, is operating concurrently, with the first round of applications closing on 15 November.
Water through the scheme will be suitable for horticulture, floriculture, fruit and nut orchards, table and wine grapes, high-value broad-acre cropping, poultry and other intensive animal husbandry, and aquaculture.
The package of benefits the NAIS offers includes access to a climate-independent source of water, long-term 45 year contracts, annual price increases capped at CPI, fully tradeable contracts, in-scheme storage, and a fully pressurised system on demand at the farm gate.
For further information, visit sawater.com.au/nais or contact nais@sawater.com.au.
Quotes attributable to Water and the River Murray Minister Ian Hunter
We’re on the ground, starting the delivery of this important infrastructure project that will activate investment and employment opportunities across the Northern Adelaide Plains.
NAIS is transformative, with major infrastructure set to deliver more climate-independent water and growing the region into the national leader in intensive, modern food production.
South Australia is poised to capitalise on growing world food demand – which the United Nations expects to increase by up to 98 per cent by 2050 – with our green credentials, premium reputation and direct transport links into lucrative Asian markets.
Quotes attributable to Agriculture, Food and Fisheries Minister Leon Bignell
The NAIS will enable the expansion of modern, irrigated food production in the Northern Adelaide Plains.
In 2015-16 our food and wine industries hit a record $18.64 billion in revenue and created 3400 jobs. One in five working South Australians is employed in the agribusiness sector and it’s the engine room of our economy.
This is an exciting opportunity to accelerate high quality, globally competitive, sustainable food production, and drive job creation in Northern Adelaide.
--ENDS--
Source: South Australian Government - www.premier.sa.gov.au
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