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The ACCIONA-led Shepparton Line Upgrade (SCU) in regional Victoria is not just preserving scarce drinking water during day-to-day construction activities, we’re also leaving behind infrastructure to help sustain local water reserves permanently into the future.
Faced with the requirement to suppress dust on the many unsealed roads around the rail upgrade project, water trucks were deployed to supress dust clouds which can spoil crops and frustrate nearby residents.
Using water from reservoirs or rivers would waste a scarce resource which is currently used for domestic consumption and crop irrigation. During droughts and bushfires, this water resource becomes even more critical.
To ease the burden on local water supplies, ACCIONA explored the use of non-potable water from one of the local wastewater treatment facilities.
Unfortunately, the lack of available equipment for waste-water extraction posed a challenge, making the refilling process both time-consuming and expensive.
To make waste-water extraction faster and cost effective, the project installed a pump and standpipe at the Nagambie Wastewater Management Facility, which allowed water trucks to use of this facility during a month-long occupation in March-April 2024.
With the completion of track and civil works in the area, ACCIONA transferred the equipment to Goulburn Valley Water, and ensured the continued use for the benefit of the local community.
The team also upgraded access tracks to the standpipe by filling potholes and repairing any road damage before the handover.
This means water trucks for local projects, such as Council road maintenance, can refill from the standpipe, taking pressure off the limited supply used for irrigation and domestic consumption.
Similarly, the local fire brigade can access the standpipe in the event of a bushfire or grass fire.
It’s also possible for the facility’s water to be used for irrigation if the need arises, further demonstrating ACCIONA’s commitment to sustainable water use.