Residents may be wondering how our local water reserves are holding up in the drought. Glen Innes and Severn Council has provided an update.
Beardy Weir and Eerindii Ponds (total 1,057 ML storage) remain at 100% capacity. With the Red Range Road bore adding 0.7ML per day to the equation, Glen Innes still has more than 2.5 years of supply , even after accounting for severe drought evaporation effects.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Eerindii Ponds has been formed from the Glen Innes Aggregates quarry pits. Before this, Council considered options including dredging the Beardy Weir, pumping from the Mann River pipeline and constructing other storages. Instead, the quarry was bought and converted to an off-stream water storage, despite much community opposition at the time. Solar powered pumping was installed, saving approximately $100,000 per year in electricity charges.
The inclusion of the Eerindii Ponds has not only increased security, but also quality. All water is now aerated on its way to the Water Treatment Plant. This provides much more stable water quality, particularly during the storm season when water quality in the Beardy Waters decreases dramatically.
The inclusion of carbon dosing last year spelled the end of bad smells and brown colour from manganese contamination, which plagued Glen Innes for many years.
The net profit from the aggregates quarry business (including Wattle Vale) has been approximately $1.8M over the last three years. Rock is crushed for gravel producing a top notch, uniform product, and profit is returned to roads. This has resulted in more water, better water, better gravel and better roads.
This year, profits are allocated to the bitumen sealing of sections of Rogers Road and Grey Street in Glen Innes, and Gulf Road at Emmaville.
