Lake Wyangan’s new flood pump and pipeline is now fully operational following the water level reaching a record high in 2022.
The newly installed pump is capable of extracting approximately 20ML per day and is operating around the clock to extract as much water as possible to ensure that all flood affected infrastructure is back above water level. The pumping is expected to continue into spring 2023 and for as long as Mumbridge Irrigation’s (MI) network can sustain the additional lake water.
On 10 January 2023, Council resolved to allocate funds to construct a new flood pump and pipeline to enable excess flood water to be removed out Lake Wyangan and pumped into the drainage network connecting to the Barren Box Storage and Wetlands system.
Griffith City Council Mayor, Doug Curran, praised local contractors and key water and sewer staff for their proactive response in getting the project up to speed quickly. He also thanked MI for their ongoing support for this project.
“This project was born out of a disaster and we still have a house under water that we want to rescue. I really feel for the family affected by this excess water. I especially want to call out the sensational work done by so many Griffith City Council staff, the work will have an immediate effect and long-term benefits, thank you one and all,” Mayor Curran said.
Griffith City Council Director of Utilities, Graham Gordon, said, “this has been a real team effort, a big thank you to the local property owners who cooperated unconditionally with Council’s Utilities staff to allow access and construction activity to occur where needed.”
Local contractors such as Armstrong’s Plant Hire and Flow Smart were part of the key expertise, along with the Council staff in the Utilities Department, that helped deliver this project in such a short time frame. It made a challenging project easier with this type of knowledge, commitment and hard work.
On 4 August 2022 and 14 September 2022, the Griffith Local Government Area, along with numerous other Local Government Areas, was declared a disaster on the basis of severe weather and flooding.
