A proposal to ensure Gawler and Virginia residents are left with reliable back-up water supply is at its final stage of consideration.
The $17.72 million project that would see a new 3 megalitre tank installed to replace an existing 1.268 megalitre, a 117-year-old tank for back-up water storage is before the Parliament of South Australia’s Public Works Committee.
Member for Light, Tony Piccolo MP, has been working with Minister Nick Champion’s office on the proposal and said, “The infrastructure upgrade will aid future water demand in the region.”
“As our region continues to grow from both a residential and employment standpoint, we need to ensure the infrastructure is there to support the expanding network,” Mr Piccolo said.
“The existing tank was built in 1907 and is no longer capable of servicing our community from a functionality and volume capacity.
“The Malinauskas Labor Government understands this and is investing to make sure our community can rely on timely delivery of our water in any situation while also reducing operational and maintenance costs, and construction risks in the long run.”
If the proposal is ticked off by the Public Works Committee, SA Water will commence the Gawler Tank Project in the first quarter of 2025, and it will take about 12 months to complete. The existing tank will be demolished to make room for the new tank.
The old water tank, which currently serves 6,200 people, would be replaced with the new tank by the first quarter of 2026.
Located at Gawler East, the water tank is in addition to the recently announced $1.5 billion investment in water and wastewater management to ensure the infrastructure is in place to support the building new homes and servicing business growth in the area.
The northern Adelaide and peri-urban areas in and around Gawler are some of the fastest growing areas in the state, and the State Labor Government is committed to ensuring the infrastructure is in place to support the communities which evolve over time.