Peel Valley Works and Drought Update

5th and 6th August 2019

Dungowan and Tamworth

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Adrian LangdonExecutive Manager, System Operations

Ronan MagaharanExecutive Manager - Assets

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Discussion Agenda• Introduction from Tamworth Regional Council • Overview• Worst Drought Ever• Drought Outlook

Impact on the Peel• Groundwater• Tributary Inflows

Customer Impacts• Peel System Users • BLR• Environment

• What is WaterNSW doing now?• How to keep updated• Next steps• Questions and Answers

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The Peel System

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Worst Drought Ever

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NSW rainfall1 May 2017 – 30 April 2019

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NSW rainfall

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NSW rainfall

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NSW rainfall

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Temperature

Water NSW

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Maximum temperature1 May 2018 – 30 April 2019

Water NSW

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Drought Stages

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State Policy

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Peel River Operations

Peel System Inflows

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Peel Tributary Inflows

Chaffey Dam Levels

17WaterNSW

May 2019

Chaffey Dam releases 16-17

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INSERT GRAPH

Chaffey Dam releases 17-18

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INSERT GRAPH

Chaffey 18-19 Releases

WaterNSW 21

Gap between black and red line highlights high losses in the system = 2 years Tamworth Supply demand

Groundwater Table

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-11.5

-11

-10.5

-10

-9.5

-9

-8.5

-81/

07/2

010

1/10

/201

0

1/01

/201

1

1/04

/201

1

1/07

/201

1

1/10

/201

1

1/01

/201

2

1/04

/201

2

1/07

/201

2

1/10

/201

2

1/01

/201

3

1/04

/201

3

1/07

/201

3

1/10

/201

3

1/01

/201

4

1/04

/201

4

1/07

/201

4

1/10

/201

4

1/01

/201

5

1/04

/201

5

1/07

/201

5

1/10

/201

5

1/01

/201

6

1/04

/201

6

1/07

/201

6

1/10

/201

6

1/01

/201

7

1/04

/201

7

1/07

/201

7

1/10

/201

7

1/01

/201

8

1/04

/201

8

1/07

/201

8

1/10

/201

8

1/01

/201

9

1/04

/201

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Gro

undw

ater

Dep

th (m

)

Depth to groundwater table below the measuring point.

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Drought Outlook

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Temperate Outlook

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Rainfall Outlook

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So…What does all this mean for the Peel Valley ?

Storage Forecast

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0

20

40

60

80

100

May-18 Aug-18 Nov-18 Feb-19 May-19 Aug-19 Nov-19 Feb-20 May-20 Aug-20 Nov-20 Feb-21

Stor

age

capa

city

(GL)

Chaffey Dam - forecast storage volume (chance of exceedance)

Minimum 99% COE DRY 80% COE Median 50% COE WET 20% COE actual No Inflow

Block banks will extend water supply (Zero Inflow Model)

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Block banks - Drought of Record Model

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Peel River: Current State of Play

Drought stage Stage 3 severe water shortage.

Storage Level •Chaffey Dam at 23% of active storage and currently releasing 20ML/d.

Allocations

•No allocation for general security in 2019/20.•Last general security allocation made in October 2018.•Reduced allocations for high priority (town and domestic and stock) and for high security users, although supply below Dungowan will be restricted later in 2019 if dry conditions continue.

Action

•Work is underway for a series of temporary weirs in the Peel River to extend supply for Tamworth and reduce around 17,000 ML in transmission losses below Chaffey Dam. The Government has committed $3.4 million for these works and $2 million for further supply investigations.

Issues

•Inflows into the dam and transmission losses below Chaffey Dam are at record high levels.•Supply below Dungowan will be restricted and alternative supply may need to sought for downstream commercial users.

Outlook •All efforts are being made to secure and extend Tamworth’s supply.

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Now

Med

ium

Long

er

Operational Savings Secure Alternative Supply Future Water Supply1. AssessLate May 2019InvestigationsBathymetry and water quality for peel.Benefits: Optimises water supply and quality for towns and high security

2. Block BanksJune: Development of block bank requirements with councilBenefits: Supply Town water for a longer period from Chaffey Dam.

3. Block BanksJune: Water quality for fauna assessment to be done for Northern ValleysBenefits: Help protect and maintain ecosystem.

1. Accessing deep water storage for Chaffey (Peel)

Trigger: Last responsible moment necessary before water ceases to flow.Benefits: Possibility of supplying town water for longer period when ground water source is used as an alternative

Industry2. Develop carting and distribution

optionsTrigger: Stopping flow at TamworthBenefits: Extend high security water to critical industries.

3. Sinking BoresTrigger: Stopping flow at TamworthBenefits: Water supply for towns and industries.

4. Aeration for deep/dead storageBenefits: Extend town water supply

1. Pipeline Chaffey to Tamworth

Develop proposal to secure supplies to Tamworth if inflows continue to stay below the drought of record

2. Groundwater storage and usage Options

PEEL Mitigation Measures

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What are we doing Now?

Infrastructure Solutions

Ronan Magaharan

Approach to extending Water Supply

Context

• Chaffey Dam supplies most of Tamworth Regional Council’s water• High transmission losses incurred through delivering water along the Peel River• Prolonging supply in Chaffey is the most effective way of servicing Tamworth’s water needs.• The sooner the rate of depletion level in the dam can be reduced and river transmission

losses can be minimised, the longer we will be able to supply water to Tamworth.• Doing nothing is simply not an option.

Proposed Solution

WaterNSW has proposed a two-staged infrastructure solution supported by NSW Government

• Stage 1: Installation of temporary weirs and pump station, extending supply for approximately four months

• Stage 2: Construction of permanent infrastructure, pipeline for Chaffey Dam to existing Dungowan pipeline that would ensure Tamworth does not run out of town water supply (under drought-of-record conditions) if constructed early enough.

Stage 1 – Temporary Weirs

Stage 1 – Install Temporary Weirs on the Peel River

To reduce heavy transmission losses and extend water supply. WaterNSW is proposing to install temporary weirs on the Peel river at two locations:

– Dungowan Village• Allows for pooling of water to be pumped into the existing TRC owned Dungowan pipeline for

delivery to Tamworth• Water pumped via a temporary pump station with a temporary pipeline of approximately 700M in

length from temporary weir to existing Dungowan Pipeline.– Jewry Street

• to control flow downstream of Tamworth and provide further backup of town supply

• Construction options being analysed (soil, gabion, sump), and will be removed when supply is secured (pipeline operation or significant inflows)

• Weirs are expected to be 1.5 to 2m high, and store 22ML (capacity of Dungowan pipeline)

• Tributary flows downstream of the dam will continue• Installation required by November 2019 to maximise available water supply• Funding commitment of $3.4M by Minister Pavey to complete the works

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Stage 1 – Location of Infrastructure

Proposed temporary weir location

Option for temporary pipeline route

Option for temporary pipeline route

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Stage 1 – Key Dates

• Commencement of construction works at Dungowan is likely to be early October 2019

• Completion of construction works at Dungowan is early November 2019.

• Pump Station Operational at Dungowan same time

• Completion of Construction works a Jewry St to be confirmed after Dungowan project is completed.

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Local Tributary inflows only below weir.

What about impacts on Fish and Wildlife?There is very likely to be if drought continues and inflows remain low… Critical human needs is now the top priority.

Here is what we are doing

• Working with DPI Fisheries around priority refuge water holes.

• Monitor water quality and quantity

• Tributary inflows will flow through the system

• Community can report issues with fish / wildlife to DPI Fisheries on 1800 043 536

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Stage 2 – Permanent Pipeline

Stage 2 – Construction of a Permanent Pipeline

• Pipeline (approx. 17-20km in length) from Chaffey Dam to Dungowan Town (and connecting to the existing pipeline owned by TRC), which would conserve Chaffey’s remaining storage by reducing transmission losses on the Peel River.

• Critically, this project would provide long-term drought security for Tamworth, and would ensure the town does not run out of water supply (under drought-of-record conditions) provided it is installed early in 2020.

• Funding of $1.9M announced my Minister Pavey to complete planning works. Funding for construction (~$38M) subject to further Govt approval.

• Where possible construction to be within existing road easements or land within the Chaffey Dam property boundary.

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Where could the pipeline run?Stage 2Two routes are to be considered: Currently preferred route (~18.5 km) via Back-Woolomin Road (Red Line). Alternate route (~16.5 km) via Tamworth-Nundle Road (Yellow Line). A third “Yellow, Pink & Red Lines” connecting pipeline of about 490 m length along Westbank Road at

Woolomin is also to be considered.

Stage 2 – Permanent Pipeline

Pipeline route

• Pipeline route has not been selected:– Review of Environmental Factors to be completed. This will confirm the required

approval pathways, which are expected to be numerous.– Engagement with impacted landholders to be completed

Key Dates• Extremely challenging timeframes with multiple parallel paths• Targeting award of D&C Contract in September 2019• Construction commencement pending

– Environmental approvals– Pipe availability– Selected route– Contractors installation methodology

Stakeholder Coordination, Design and Scope Development – 3 Months

Initiation – 1 months

Tender – 3 Months

Resource allocation – 1 months

Planning and Environmental Approvals – 3 Months

Funding and Approvals –2 Months

Procurement – 3 Months

Detailed Design – 3 Months Construction – 3 Months

Commission –1-2 Months

Project Close –1-2 Months

Total Project Delivery Time = 9 Months

Route Selection, Land Identification and Acquisition – 3-4 Months

Key Challenge - TimeWhat have we done to reduce timeframe:

Engaged additional resources

Working closely with Tamworth Council to coordinate project

Early briefings to Government Approval agencies

Financial approval process commenced

Land / Route selection – primarily council land

Early Contractor Involvement process

Pipe capacity / size review to being prioritised

Pipe Suppliers engaged to minimise lead time

Lessons learnt from delivering the Broken Hill Pipeline

When do the temporary weirs get removed ?

Two triggers for removal

1) Dungowan Pipeline project is installed and operational.

2) Chaffey Dam has more than two years supply in storage.

Which ever occurs first !

Such is the severity of the drought and forecasts showing no improvement…..

Doing nothing is simply not an option.

A collaborative response between NSW Government, WaterNSW, Tamworth Regional Council is needed to secure Critical Human Water supply needs.

Next Steps

• If you are a riverfront landholder with BLR rights with no alternate water supply (town water supply connected or existing bore etc) option, please let us know.

• Will be back to talk to the community in Mid October,

• WaterNSW to update Tamworth Water Taskforce in 2 weeks.

• Continue planning and feasibility on Stage 2 Pipeline project.

• Updates also via our website, social media and local media.

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Questions?

Fact Sheets available today

DPI site www.industry.nsw.gov.au for facts

Visit the website at: waternsw.com.au/drought

For information including water availability reports and drought reports go to: https://www.waternsw.com.au/supply/drought-information/regional-nsw

Call us on: 1300 662 077

Subscribe at: waternsw.com.au/subscribeFor weekly customer drought updates and more information

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More information

More Information

BoresFor specific inquiries about stock and domestic bores (Basic landholder rights bores) email waterregnorth@waternsw.com.auNicole Gleeson-Lendon’s (02) 9849 9960

The WNSW general inquiry number – 1300 662 077 Customer.Helpdesk@waternsw.com.au

Early Warning network Registration (EWN)- Via registration forms available here tonight.

Dedicated Peel Valley information

Facebook Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/WaterNSWPeelRiver/

Dedicated web pages

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Thankyou for your attendance