Sunlands Pipeline Replacement Project
Client:
Central Irrigation Trust
Location:
Waikerie, SA
Project value: $2M
Safely upgrading a vital irrigation network
The Sunlands Irrigation District supplies River Murray water to growers, industry and domestic customers through an automated pressure pipeline. Installed in the early 1960s, mainly with Asbestos Cement Fibre (ACF) pipes, the network was at risk of failure.
Tonkin was engaged to project-manage and deliver the design of upgrade works that would provide a sustainable solution for the water supply to the Sunlands Irrigation District. In turn, this would ensure the long-term viability of the growers, industries and households dependent on the irrigation system.
How we made a difference
By using GRP pipelines, Tonkin supplied materials that are inert and will last for 100 or more years before requiring replacement, giving irrigators significant peace of mind.
Tonkin’s innovative approach to stakeholder engagement and consultation during the design process made certain the best value outcome was provided for irrigators and the Central Irrigation Trust.
What we did
Tonkin was actively involved in the planning, stakeholder consultation, approvals and design phases. Planning and development included liaison with state and local government, as well as ongoing dialogue with the irrigators to ensure they received a suitable solution.
Tonkin oversaw works to replace the ACF piping and:
- Carry out geotechnical investigations
- Deliver hydraulic modelling and perform network optimisation
- Consolidate irrigation outlets
- Preserve the existing network functionality
- Develop tender documentation for the construction contract.
We used in-house resources for stakeholder engagement, geotechnical investigations and GIS, saving money for our client.
What we achieved
During the installation of the new pipeline, Tonkin worked successfully with the construction contractor to maintain the supply of water, with only planned, short outages. This meant that the project was delivered without impact to irrigators’ crops and yields.
Our geotechnical engineer played a major role in the smooth progress of the project by:
- Writing a detailed report outlining site conditions and underlying geological formations
- Saving money when it was proved that soils did not need to be imported for pipe embedment and backfill
- Providing advice on the stability of the cliffs in the vicinity of the Sunlands pump station.
As a result of the upgrade, irrigators can now order water at a time that suits them through an online order system. A reduction in outages due to pipeline failures has resulted in a more reliable water supply for irrigators.
The improved efficiency of water transfer to irrigators and better pressure of supply ultimately resulted in an optimisation of the water pumped from the Murray River.
