Regulator sites now solar powered

16 May 2011

Muggabah and Merrimajeel river regulator sites are now powered independently following the installation of two 110 watt solar power systems by State Water Corporation.

The new solar powered sites, located near Booligal in southern NSW, were installed as part of an ongoing strategy to improve the corporation’s environmental performance and reduce operating costs.

State Water project manager Janaka Weeraratne said the Muggabah and Merrimajeel sites were of particular environmental significance.

“The Muggabah and Merrimajeel Creeks are listed on the Register of National Estate due to the Booligal Wetlands and Little Gum Swamp which provide high value bird breeding areas,” Mr Weeraratne said.

“State Water considered the environmental significance of the sites during installation of the regulators and again during the solar power installation with precautions taken not to obstruct fish passage and bird breeding events at these important sites.”

“Through implementing our energy management plan along with programs such as the Rivers Environmental Restoration Program (RERP) we can ensure rivers are managed in a sustainable manner and flows are delivered with optimum efficiency.”

The RERP is jointly funded by the NSW Government and the Australian Government’s Water for the Future - Water Smart Australia Program. RERP aims to arrest the decline of wetlands through water recovery and effective management of environmental water, and funded the construction of the Muggabah and Merrimajeel regulators.

State Water is now planning solar power installations for weirs at Warren, Booberoi, Gonowila, Torriganny and Yallakool and the North Marsh Bypass Channel regulator.

-ENDS-

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