Wetland

From “Lake Urine’

To ‘Swan Lake”

From Lake Urine to Swan Lake

There has been a ‘dam’ near the 14th green from a time before the Club owned the land. Over the years it had changed by the addition of different types of trees. The dam itself never became a source of water for the course, but provided a catchment for the run-off from the adjacent hills.

It was known affectionately as “Lake Urine” as displayed in the famous Associates Christmas movie “How to win at golf” starring Dot Lawson as Charlie Chaplin, way back in 1969.

In January 2000, a proposal was made to the Board for a Wetlands Project at the 14th/15th to investigate the potential for constructing a small water storage in front of the 15th tee, coupled with a wetland feature to the right of the 14th green. To progress this proposal, approval was given to discuss the concept with a wetlands scientific specialist, Geoff Sainty.

Simultaneously an order was placed with Intertech Drilling to sink a bore to 180 meters depth, at a point just north of the pump-house between the 15th tee and 14th fairway. It was seen that proof of the viability of the bore was the key step in the process of investigation of this project

The project did not progress immediately, in part because the drilling of the bore at the 14th, even after increasing the depth of the bore by 50 meters, did not produce any significant flow and what water did flow was of a highly saline content. It was euphemistically described by Ian Criss, a geologist on the Board, as being a “DOG”!

The project for creating a wetlands was held in abeyance until it was again proposed in October 2013 and it was agreed to proceed at an estimated cost of $17,000. The ladies offered to provide an amount of approximately $17,000, which were funds accumulated for ladies trophies prior to the Associates and Member’s funding being combined in 2013.

It had previously been established that the soil was of a suitable clay composition to ensure the lake would hold water and not ‘leak’ away, thus avoiding using an underlay which would detract from the naturalness of the lake. A small weir was constructed to hold the water, but allow an overflow into the existing natural water course across the front of the 15th practice tee.

The work was carried out by the course staff and was completed and filled with water in November 2013.

Planting of suitable waterside grasses surrounding the lake and on the small island followed and over the coming years has produced a beautiful feature on the course.

In January 2014, three submersible aeration pumps were installed in three locations to keep the water healthy and allow the long necked turtles which previously had inhabited the dam to thrive in this new water feature.

The wetlands quite quickly attracted a range of different water birds:- two types of ducks, Black Pacific Duck and Australian Wood Ducks and more recently , dusky moorhens, pied cormorants, Australian White Ibis, Australian White-faced Heron and occasionally White Egrets. The pond, as mentioned above, was also a home for long necked freshwater turtles which continued to breed.

At one stage the pond was stocked with freshwater perch fingerlings by the course staff, which started to grow well. There was an expectation of providing fish dinners! However when the water level dropped to a dangerous level for the fish, it was decided to top up the dam from the WRP.

Unfortunately this was a fatal mistake, not realising that the chlorine level was too high for the fish and the whole stock perished overnight. It was later discovered that if the water had been run across the grass and then flowed into the dam the chlorine level would have been lowered to an acceptable level. So No Fish Dinners!

The lake became well established and the vegetation flourished. Over time, water lilies which had been in the previous dam, spread prolifically across the surface of the pool. Water lilies are natural water purifiers. When light hits the lily pads, a chemical reaction takes place that enables pollutants to be broken down. Each lily pad can treat one cubic metre of contaminated water per day without harming aquatic life.

However by 2021, the water lilies were so prolific they covered almost half the surface of the pond. Also other water grasses had grown to an extent where they too were starting to be out of control. It had been found that the original feature of a small central island was difficult to access to allow maintenance of the vegetation there. So it was decided that a complete clean out and remodelling of the pond would overcome these issues and allow improvement to the otherwise delightful feature.

In June 2021, the pond was scraped clean and the central island removed. The perimeter was improved by locating large rocks in the water around the whole pond. During this operation the long necked turtles were relocated to the dam near the maintenance shed.

The pond is again home to numerous long necked turtles which can often be seen sunning themselves on the rocks around the edge. And the ducks and moorhens have returned as well.

Almost drinkable.. Water Reclamation Plant

Dam ! No! Mining the sewer is a much better solution.

Water Reclamation Plant

Quote ”Security of water supply from other than town water remains at the top of the Club's wish list in 1999.”

Refer to pages 140-147 in “Golf in the Pennant Hills District” for early history of plans for secure supply of water for the course. It can be seen that investigation of building a dam of a size to reliably supply the course during the most severe drought was increasingly unlikely as environmental, and estimates of capacity, became more evident as barriers.

The new Millennium saw Sydney and eastern Australia gripped by a multiyear drought, being particularly severe in the densely populated southeast part of the state.

A feature of the drought was a long period without major wet episodes. While 2002 and 2006 were the only years which were severely dry over large areas, there were very few periods of sustained above-average rainfall. This prevented State water storages from recovering. From 2001 onwards it extended to most remaining areas of eastern Australia south of the tropics. All capital cities except Darwin were affected by persistent, or periodic, drought episodes. The effects of poor rainfall during the cool season were cumulative. The drought took hold through increasing impacts over a series of years. There was long-term drying of vegetation, landscape and drawdown on water resources.

During the previous decade, the Board, had been pursuing various possible alternatives for securing long term water supply for the course including a dam on Devlins Creek, storm water runoff, bore water and mining and treatment of the sewerage line running through the course. And the end of the 20th century “saw a dam seeming the most attractive source of water to replace town water, or at least to provide a good supplement”.

Any water storage project involved several authorities, including Hornsby Shire Council, Sydney Water, Dept of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources and the requirement to lodge a Development Application (DA) along with an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and consideration of possible Aboriginal sites of significance.

With the impact of the drought on the storage level of Sydney dams, and the increasing population providing a continuing increase in demand on water supplies, Sydney Water had prepared a water use reduction plan with the target of reducing Sydney Water consumption by 35% by 2010. The majority of the reduced consumption was expected to come from residential consumption. In support of this objective, Sydney Water would support any proposal that could demonstrate achievable reductions in drinking water consumption. The nature of any support would be considered when the feasibility of any of the club’s options became more apparent. This included possible assistance with financing for the project.

The distinct possibility of all golf courses being required to stop irrigation, should the storage levels in dams fell to very low levels, was a ‘nightmare’ scenario which would massively hinder the continuing upkeep of the course. Even though any restrictions would be introduced progressively, the impact on the course would be severe.

In November 2002, the Sydney dam storage level had dropped to 65% and voluntary restrictions were announced. By April 2003, dam levels had fallen to 59% and the restrictions were to become mandatory when levels fell to 55%. While at that stage, restrictions had applied mainly to domestic use where it was believed most of the reductions would be made, businesses and councils were encouraged to limit their watering and were further encouraged by their local communities to share the responsibility for water conservation. Sydney Water had estimated the impact of the restrictions in slowing the draw down from their water reserves. Should the impact be less than expected, further, more severe restrictions would then come into play. Again though, these would be put in place progressively and could apply at first to the hours of irrigation, then to the parts of the course that could be irrigated (greens and tees) and then to the manner of irrigation (auto vs manual). All of this would occur within the context of severe water shortages experienced by all of Sydney Water's customers. In such an environment it would be difficult to explain lush fairways to the general public unless the Club was using an alternative water source.

The Club was therefore advised to complete the EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) and preparation for a DA (Development Application) to plan for a storm water runoff capture system or any other developments or options.

In June 2003 a meeting was organised with Sydney Water to follow up on possible contacts for a water project. By October 2003 the continuing deterioration in the storage levels within dams, plans were considered by the Board to involve help from Club members to help survive what one Sydney Water employee described as “draconian” water restrictions, if the Club was unable to get what was felt to be modest exemptions.

It was also recognised that any water project would involve major costs and Board gave intense consideration to alternatives for financing and paying for the project.

By 2004, the assessment of various water storage and collection alternatives was well advanced. All agreed on the need to have one water project encompassing dam, sewer mining, run-off and bore.

The Board had engaged the consultancy services of Connell Wagner and had also engaged Hydroilex to drill for potential sources of bore water near the 14th green and provide chemical analysis of any water flow The final report from Hydroilex, on the summary of the aquifer testing and water chemistry for water found at the 14th, unfortunately did not produce any viable source of bore water, it being both too saline and of poor flow.

In March 2005, in a circular to Club members on the progress towards a secure water supply, it was reported “whilst at that stage, options remained for a 25 ML dam on Devlin’s Creek or treating waste water from the sewer main in Devlin’s Creek plus a small bore water supplement, the odds were firming on a waste water treatment plant. As difficulties with a dam continued to mount, the technical issues with treating waste water were being steadily resolved, leading to waste water being a more attractive solution.”

The Club’s consultants, Connell Wagner, finalised the concept design for a waste water treatment plant by mid March 2005 and continued to clear hurdles. Initial doubts about the capacity of the 300 mm Sewerage main in Devlin’s Creek to yield enough waste water had been found would yield at least 19.5ML per month during normal conditions falling to 15 ML per month during serious drought conditions. This was almost double the Club’s allocation of 10ML p/month by Sydney Water.

Importantly, a combination of techniques such as biological, UV and chlorine treatment were now used to treat waste water to high levels of purity to a much higher level than golf course applications had typically achieved. This would allow treated water application close to boundaries and during times of public access.

Another favourable benefit was the constant flow in the sewer, meaning the need to store only 3ML with a possible back up from bore water from a bore near the 6th tee, at a rate of 6ML p/month that could be “shandied” with treated water during serious drought conditions. With the high expectation that Sydney

Water would, in the short to medium term, deny the Club access to town water, the Board intended to attempt to have the plant operational before the end of the year.

NB A bore was drilled below the 6th tee. It found a solid supply of water, however the water had a high chloride and high iron content. It could be integrated with the WRP, but it could only be used on fairways and not greens. To use this bore water, would require a changeover whenever it was to be used. The bore is piped into the WRP centre, but has not needed to be used as of 2022.

In June 2005, during a pre DA meeting with Hornsby Shire Council attended by the Club President Steve Walker, and accompanied by consultants, Connell Wagner, the draft EIS was presented to Council to see if there were any other issues that they required to be addressed. It turned out that this sewerage water recovery project was a ‘first’ for Hornsby Shire Council and probably Sydney Water which meant that the Club foresaw some delays in getting the DA approved.

By August 2005, the hope for a speedy approval was faced with the caution of the Authorities in approving what was a ‘novel’ first. Both Hornsby Council and Sydney Water continued to support the Club’s application while twin issues of negotiating a trade waste and long term supply issue were under discussion.

Using treated waste water on golf courses was not new, and the EIS listed courses including Castle Hill, Richmond and Liverpool currently supplied by Sydney Water. Other courses such as Catalina at Batemans Bay had done it for many years.

What was to be new was the intention to ensure that the water product was treated to the highest possible non-potable standards, allowing uncontrolled public access with intermittent human contact.

In September 2005 the Club held a neighbourhood meeting and distributed brochures to nearby residents, all of whom gave positive support. An ‘in principle’ acceptance had been given to a draft sewer mining agreement by Sydney Water, a 30 year agreement with an option, nil off-take costs subject to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) pricing changes which were likely to be positive and full protection of upstream flows.

The proposal to proceed with a sewer mining and treatment plant was strongly endorsed at the October 2005 AGM.

In January 2006 PHGC was on the NSW Government's top 50 water users list that had been named in Parliament. As a result of this the Club had to prepare a formal Water Saving Plan by 31 March 2006 which would show how the Club planned to save water.

The preliminary capital cost estimate for the treatment plant and associated works was around $3m, and ongoing operating costs were unlikely to be much less than was currently paid for town water

From October 2005, the clear priority would be on the water project. Expressions of interest were sought from potential suppliers and applications were received from 6 potential tenderers. The process was somewhat delayed by the slow progress being made by Hornsby Council with the Development Application.

The NSW Government had established a Water Savings Fund and the Club made application in November for consideration.

The Club was not successful in receiving funding in the first round, however additional funds had been made available for the Top 50 water users. In August the Club was awarded a NSW Government $1.1m grant towards the Water Recycling plant. The Club also applied for a $50,000 funding grant under the Federal Government Raising National Water Standards Fund and was awarded a grant for that amount in February 2007.

Tenders had been called to close in late December and a short list of 2 were selected for final negotiations in February 2007. The contract was awarded to Water Technology Australia to supply and build the waste water treatment plant and the contract was signed on 27 February 2007 with an expected ‘ready for commissioning’ date of 1 November 2007

Delays due to various causes occurred during the construction phase and the formal validation and testing did not take place until April 2008. The plant was officially opened by the NSW Minister for Water, Nathan Rees on 30 May 2008.

The plant won two separate awards from the Department of Water and Energy, and an Eco-Imagination award from General Electric. It aroused great interest within Australia and overseas as an environmental first in the irrigation of a first class golf course.

Testing of the water produced during the proving phase showed the plant to be operating to the Club’s exacting specifications.

And so, after decades of exploring and hoping to find an economic and secure source of water for the course, the WRP (Water Reclamation Plant) was eventually found to be the best solution, benefitting from the advances in technologies for treatment of waste water.

Without doubt, the Club owes an enormous debt of gratitude to Project Leader, Steve Walker, and General Manager, Stuart Fenton. Their untiring efforts and contacts proved of enormous and definitive benefit to the success of the project. Their achievement in securing major financial grants to ‘soften the blow’ of the cost to the Club as well as constant drive to keep the project on track by overcoming the regular obstacles appearing because of the ‘novelty’ of the project for the authorities was monumental.

Opening Of The Water Reclamation Plant

Over 130 members and guests were in attendance at the official opening of the Water Reclamation Plant (WRP) on Friday 30th May. Formal proceedings included speeches from Club President, Steve Walker and NSW Minister for Water, Hon Nathan Rees, who jointly opened the Plant.

Former General Manager, Stewart Fenton was also on hand to receive the General Electric Ecomagination award on behalf of the Club.

In 2009, PHGC won the award for "Highest Percentage Reduction" Every Drop Counts Water Efficiency Awards 2009 from Sydney Water.

Description of WRP process

Key elements include a sewerage off-take well in Devlins Creek, three large storage tanks, and the main plant consisting of a balance tank plus two processing tanks (one biological and one membrane) as well as a pumping room and computerised control system within a shed.

Effluent is extracted from the sewer line in Devlins Creek, pumped to the balance tank and then put through biological processes in both anaerobic ( anoxic) and aerobic conditions, before final filtering using a high tech membrane process. It then undergoes UV treatment and chlorination before going into the storage tanks. The plant provides between 500 and 650 kilolitres per day (15 to 19 million litres per month compared to the Sydney Water restriction to 10ML per month).

The plant produces Class A water suitable for irrigation with uncontrolled public access, the highest quality short of drinking standard.

The plant is similar to plants used in Singapore where an additional stage of treatment produces potable water.

Is this the end of our quest for a permanent supply of water for the course?

In early 2022, the Club entered into discussions concerning access to the water extracted from the Northconnex tunnel which could augment the Club’s supply to be completely self sufficient, with even the WRP only needing to be maintained as a reserve facility.

Negotiations have progressed well to the point of agreement that the Club can gain access to the water provided they indemnify Northconnex and all costs for transferring the water to the course are at the Club’s expense. Because of the irregular flow that will occur, the Club will establish an on-course storage facility to manage this. The flow is expected to provide approximately 85% of the annual water needs and will be mixed with the water from the WRP when extra is required during dryer periods.

External Articles relating to the Water Recycling Project.

https://www.postcarbon.org/sewer-mining-efficient-water-recycling-coming-toa-community-near-you/ https://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/news/bpn/golf-club-unveils-sewerproject https://www.infrastructurenews.co.nz/innovative-wastewater-treatmentchanging -city-infrastructure/ https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Victor_Damato2/publication/337031594 _Pennant_Hillspdf/data/5dc1ae98a6fdcc21280861dc/PennantHills.pdf?origin=publication_list