PIPA and the Environment
Plastics Industry Pipe Association of Australia Ltd
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PIPA and the Environment
Plastics Industry Pipe Association of Australia Ltd
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Capping and Piping Artesian Bores
Background In New South Wales, the discovery of the Great Artesian Basin (GAB) in the late 19th century led to the construction of many artesian bores and the provision of assured water supplies of acceptable salinity on several stock routes previously classed as unreliable. Several thousand bores have since been drilled and water is conveyed through earthen channels for thousands of kilometres.
For over 110 years, bores have accessed the aquifers of the GAB. Since this first artesian bore, there have been more than 4,700 artesian bores and 2,403 known sub artesian bores drilled in the GAB. Issues such as diminishing flows and pressures in the GAB have been of concern since the early part of the century. Legislation for the management of the GAB has been passed in all states starting with 1910 in Queensland. Although some gains have been made as a result of the curtailment of free flowing bores at this time, pressure in many regions continues to diminish. Over 3300 free flowing artesian bores exist across the GAB today. A free flowing artesian bore is one in which water is above ground surface and can discharge up to 8 megalitres a day. About 820 of these are uncontrolled and usually flow into bore drains, and the rest are partially controlled by headworks. Approximately 90% of water in a bore drain system is lost through evaporation and soakage. Water loss reduces water pressure, which can increase costs to access water. There are over 600 groups of natural springs within the GAB, supporting unique wetland ecosystems. Due to loss of pressure many such ecosystems have become extinct and others are threatened. In 1997 realising that the GAB is a natural resource which does not recognise political boundaries, the Commonwealth and State Governments supported the establishment of the the Great Artesian Basin Consultative Council (GABCC), representing each State and Territory within the GAB to provide advice to Governments. A revised GABSMP was launched in September 2000 with a currency of 15 years, providing a management plan for the whole resource. In support of and as an outcome to the development of the GABSMP, financial support has been provided by the Federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Australia and by the State governments. In 1999 the GAB Sustainability Initiative invested in delivery of infrastructure renewal and/or replacement, which includes piping and capping works. Piping and capping were not new initiatives for State governments, which had previously provided funds through programs such as the Natural Heritage Trust and the Landcare Program. Cap & Pipe the Bores is a jointly funded initiative of the NSW and Commonwealth Governments to achieve sustainable land and water management in the Great Artesian Basin (GAB). $20 million will be available in NSW over the five years from 1999 to 2004. Artesian bores will be rehabilitated and wasteful bore drains will be replaced with efficient piped systems so that water can be controlled and used only when and where required. Implementation of Cap & Pipe the Bores will reduce wastage, address artesian pressure decline, improve water use efficiency, reduce salinity, conserve biodiversity, control feral animals and encourage sustainable land and stock management practices. To conserve water and restore pressure, bores will be rehabilitated and bore drains will be replaced with pipelines. However, as cost has been identified as a major impediment, this will be offset by grants through the Cap & Pipe the Bores program. Grants will be made available only for works that satisfy the technical requirements of the Department of Land and Water Conservation (DLWC), based on Australian Standards where they exist. Water is to be reticulated through pipes to tanks and troughs. All bore drains and associated ground tanks should be eliminated from the system and preferably decommissioned. Water temperatures in NSW vary from 30°C to 60°C. Pipelines must have a minimum design life of 50 years at the working water temperature. These standards have been adopted to ensure that the government funds are invested wisely in systems that are cost-effective, operate efficiently and have a long, trouble-free working life. Schemes that are only partially piped (some bore drains being retained) or built to a lower standard will not attract the government grant.
The bore rehabilitation component includes bore logging, drilling, casing, cementing, slotting, bore plugging and minor repairs to headworks. The piping component includes the planning process, detailed design and specifications, pumps, pipes and fittings, tanks, troughs and installation, decommissioning bore drains and associated ground tanks.
The Plastics Industry Pipe Association (PIPA), represents over 95% of plastics pipe and fittings manufacturers in Australia. Our members manufacture pipes for a range of applications including water, sewer, plumbing, irrigation, drainage, mining, and electrical/telecom conduits. The bores are rehabilitated and capped. Bore drains are replaced with pipelines, which are used to reticulate water to tanks and troughs. PIPA members offer pipe to carry the temperature extremes of water in the GAB, 40 to 100 degrees Celsius, and have been closely involved in capping and piping programs in NSW, Queensland, and SA. Currently the Federal and NSW Government funding for the NSW section of the project is around $6m a year. The $3m Federal contribution is made through the Great Artesian Basin Sustainability Initiative. Landowners contribute the balance which is roughly another $6m. Given the estimated total cost of the capping and piping program basinwide is $300m, at current funding rates it is expected that completion will take about 20 years. PIPA recommends accelerating the program to say a five year tenure, which involves increasing funding from each party seven fold over the current rate. The advantages of an accelerated approach are
The success of this project should not be underrated. PIPA has anecdotal evidence of farmers who claim that but for access to water from capped and reticulated bores, they would have been forced to abandon their properties in the current drought. PIPA strongly recommends that the Federal Government consider increasing the level of funding to enable this significant program to quickly contribute to the conservation and effective utilisation of water reserves. Given the considerable expertise and experience of Australia’s plastics pipe industry spanning over forty years, PIPA would like to offer its services to any government consultative forum that might be established to find long term constructive and viable solutions to the drought and water conservation. As well, our commitment to finding solutions, particularly with the capping the bores projects, means that PIPA members would ensure - where possible - a maximum effort to create jobs and viable industries in rural and regional Australia. Responses The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport and Regional Services has replied to indicate that PIPA's recommendation of accelerating the Great Artesian Basin Sustainability Initiative has been noted and that the Program will be considered in the Budget context. The NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation (DLWC) indicates that the Cap and Pipe the Bores program is is being used in developing options and 'the tenure of the project will be dependent on the outcomes of the feasibility study and future investments and returns'. Continued input from PIPA is welcomed. References GAB FACTS pamphlet issued by Great Artesian Basin Consultative Council; June 2002 Yelarbon North Star Croppa Creek: Assessment of irrigation impacts, status Report 2000 issued by NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation Cap & Pipe the Bores pamphlet issued by NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation; November 2000 Technology in Australia 1788-1988, Chapter 3, page 168; published by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, Melbourne University Sustainability of the Great Artesian Basin, paper presented by J Seccombe,Chair, Great Artesian Basin Consultative Council; Academy Symposium, November 2000
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