The Crown Casino Pump Station is receiving a full replacement of the 30-year-old electrical switch and control systems to ensure that it continues to provide essential flood protection for the area.
Melbourne Water is planning to raise the electrical switchboard and all associated equipment to reduce the likelihood of river levels reaching the controls, and causing catastrophic damage in extreme weather events.
The electrical switchboard and control systems have reached the end of life and are in need of a full replacement.
The works will include:
- Upgrading the existing electrical switchboard and moving it closer to Clarendon Street
- Installing a new control system within the new switchboard
- Raising the level of the electrical and control equipment to meet expected river levels in extreme storm events
- Sealing and waterproofing the bluestone housing the electrical and control equipment
Melbourne Water recognises there will be some short-term disturbances, but this work is essential to ensure that there is optimal flood mitigation in the area, which is especially important in extreme weather events.
Crown Casino Pump Station contains four submersible pumps and three motorised penstocks to control water flow. Under normal operating conditions the penstocks are closed and the drain system is kept empty by the intermittent operation of the submersible pumps.
Under extreme storm events, the drain flow rates are higher than the capacity of the four pumps, and the drain level continues to rise. When the level in the drain exceeds the river level the penstocks successively open to allow a greater flow directly to the river.
