Whopping water tanks secure 20 million litres for growing Barossa

Work is now underway on two new 10-megalitre storage tanks at Sandy Creek, boosting water reliability and security for over 55,000 customers across the Barossa and nearby regions as the area grows.

Located off Kalperri Road, the tanks will increase the capacity of SA Water’s local network and enable a new supply to service growth areas from Craigmore to Roseworthy, along with western areas of the Barossa.

Enabling and pre-construction activities, including earthworks and the installation of connecting pipework, are nearing completion ahead of the concrete pour to establish the first tank’s base slab scheduled for November.

The project is part of the $1.5 billion investment in critical water and sewer infrastructure through the State Government’s Housing Roadmap – delivered by SA Water – to unlock capacity for new homes to be built across Adelaide’s northern and southern growth fronts.

SA Water’s General Manager for Growth Amanda Lewry said the site for the new tanks at Sandy Creek had been strategically selected for its central position within the utility’s Barossa water network.

“These are the largest tanks we have built in Greater Adelaide for more than a decade, and at 6.5 metres high and 48 metres wide, collectively store 20 million litres of drinking water,” Amanda said.

“The tanks will ensure reliable services to more than 55,000 existing customers while enabling growth in new and expanding greenfield developments throughout Adelaide’s outer north.

“Importantly, the site was designed for scalability, with space to accommodate additional storage tanks as required to support future growth across the region – including the recently rezoned Concordia.”

The two new water tanks will help maintain levels of service to existing customers across the Barossa and surrounding regions while increasing supply to greenfield developments within areas like Gawler East and Roseworthy, with future tanks planned for construction as demand increases.

Each tank is being constructed with 36 pre-cast concrete panels using a sealed post-tensioned design, delivering a 100-year operational life.

Ms Lewry said this demonstrates SA Water’s commitment to building infrastructure that enables communities now and into the future, laying the foundation for new housing that will help meet demand in coming years.

“We are helping build South Australia’s future, and infrastructure such as our new tanks means that we can continue delivering secure and reliable services as new developments connect to our networks,” she said.

“Tackling the housing crisis requires a collaborative effort across industry and we are proud to play our part in delivering critical enabling infrastructure.”

Recently, new valves were installed for the to-be-constructed inlet and outlet trunk main that connects the tanks to the broader Barossa system, which sources water from SA Water’s Barossa Water Treatment Plant.

A new tank inlet control facility will also replace an existing station to align with expected future higher flow volumes and stages of upgrades.

“By investing in this long-term solution, we are enhancing service reliability and security of supply in giving operators greater flexibility to manage key assets, including the Barossa Water Treatment Plant,” Amanda said.

To minimise environmental and visual impacts, the tanks are being built into the hillside and are positioned to reduce visibility from the south and east.

As part of the ongoing work, a controlled rock break recently took place at the Sandy Creek site, reducing anticipated traditional excavation work by at least 100 days.

The closely managed and controlled activity broke through hard rock within seconds that would otherwise have required months of surface excavations.

Ms Lewry said this efficient technique has helped keep the project on schedule while minimising disruption for the community.

“We understand the work we’re doing in local communities can be disruptive to residents and we actively look for ways to minimise that as much as possible,” she said.

“The controlled rock break is another example of how we are seeking new methods to enable our crews to deliver more efficiently, which in turn helps to reduce community disruption.

“We appreciate everyone’s understanding as we work to deliver this essential infrastructure that underpins housing growth across the state.”

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