Construction is nearing completion on the Oaklands Wetland project in Adelaide’s South with the first pump station complete and the other two underway.
Construction of the wetland is expected to be completed by August 2013 and established by 2015.
The project is now scheduled to achieve practical completion by August. The cause for the delay to the previously announced end-June date has been the recent wet weather conditions which have made earth works not possible on site. There has also been a revised clay liner methodology and cable thefts on site which has also delayed progress.
Recent works include;
- Construction of the distribution network is progressing fast, SADB have nearly completed all pipe works along the Sturt River Linear Park.
- Council has approved the contractors to deliver the Oaklands Wetland project:
- Bardavcol for Civil and Landscaping Service
- Alano Water for Mechanical and Electrical Service
- SADB Directional Drilling for the Distribution Network
Pump Station 1 (to pump Sturt River water from off-take structure inlet into gross pollutant trap) and the gross pollutant trap are in place, surrounding earth works will be completed in next few weeks
The pit for Pump Station 2 (to pump (inject) treated wetland water from wetland into aquifer) has been excavated and pipe connection will be installed in the next few weeks.
The shed for Pump Station 3 (to pump recovered water from aquifer via header tank to reserves via distribution network)is being fitted out to house the main distribution pumps. The buffer tank will be installed in the next few weeks.
The former Driver Training Centre at Oaklands Park is being transformed into a wetland capable of harvesting enough water to fill 160 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
The completed stormwater reuse scheme will ultimately be capable of capturing, cleaning and storing up to 400 million litres of stormwater each year, and distributing recovered water for irrigation of council parks in the area.
The wetland will be surrounded by recreational and educational facilities.
The Oaklands Wetland Project is being co-funded by the City of Marion, the Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board and the Australian Government’s Water for the Future initiative through the National Urban Water and Desalination Plan.
