Utility Industry May 2022 Digital Edition

Page 42

WAT E R M ANAG EMENT

MAKING WATER WORK

IN NORTHERN AUSTRALIA

LAKE ARGYLE, ONE OF NORTHERN AUSTRALIA’S CRITICAL ASSETS.

A new approach is needed to manage shared water resources in Northern Australia, to ameliorate the impacts of drought and flooding events and to provide opportunities and confidence to produce new agricultural products for high value markets.

F

ollowing a period of foundational research activity, including a series of sector based situational analyses, the Cooperative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia (CRCNA) has now consolidated its approach and is investing in a number of large-scale initiatives to underpin its role in developing the north. One of these initiatives is progressing the Water Security for Northern Australia Program (WSNA) which presents an opportunity to jointly deliver a series of flagship research activities for the CRCNA across several game-changing research initiatives that will deliver long-term benefit for the region. The Northern Australia University Alliance (NAUA) of Charles Darwin University, CQUniversity Australia and James Cook University have partnered with the CRCNA to undertake a research-focused approach to this challenge by building on recent collaborative regional research proposals. The partnership acknowledges the full potential of Northern Australia and this co-investment is a vital

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UTILITY • MAY 2022

opportunity to demonstrate that economic growth and environmentally healthy and sustainable eco-systems can coexist in a water context. The objective of the program of research activities is to de-risk the Northern Australian investment and development landscape by improving water sustainability across the region and providing a pathway for the future development of key sectors as well as improving the health and wellbeing of the north’s communities. Initially the partnership will support the CRCNA to identify key research priorities and those opportunities that can be sensibly advanced within Northern Australia. Identifying technologies and solutions for tropical savannas and remote arid areas are much less developed or nonexistent. Unfortunately, despite the massive investment in Australia and globally, the water management challenges peculiar to the north of Australia are still to be addressed. Such challenges include: a general lack of water planning, remote and disparate small communities, a lack of skilled

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Articles inside

Australia’s big batteries: new storage to match the rise of renewables

12min
pages 86-89

Trialling new technology to keep power networks safe

4min
pages 84-85

Sewer blockage rates slashed thanks to million dollar campaign

4min
pages 82-83

Smart mains management puts SA Water breaks on downward trend

5min
pages 80-81

Vermeer HDD a fab addition for Irrifab

2min
pages 76-77

Powerful pumps – the heart of HDD maxi-rig spreads

5min
pages 78-79

Does your water data flow like your H2O?

2min
pages 68-69

Connect, protect and optimise your fleet

3min
pages 66-67

Australian water utilities on the right track for zero emissions

7min
pages 74-75

We don’t just need resilient infrastructure, but infrastructure for resilience

5min
pages 70-73

Power quality that delivers cost savings and efficiency gains

2min
pages 58-59

A trusted partner for a major Australian infrastructure electricity project

2min
pages 56-57

Creating Australia’s best tasting tap water

4min
pages 36-39

Helping water companies prevent wastewater spills

2min
pages 44-45

AI in the water sector: Safer, faster, better

2min
pages 34-35

The end of an era: Louise Dudley reflects on leading Urban Utilities for the last decade

9min
pages 30-33

Why use a duckbill valve?

2min
pages 40-41

Collaboration in the water sector: more voices means better ideas

5min
pages 28-29

Making water work in Northern Australia

4min
pages 42-43

Athens upgrades its pressure management with regulating valves

2min
pages 46-47
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