Water meter replacement to commence soon

7 September  2011

New South Wales is soon to commence two major river management projects in what is an Australian first for river management in the Murray-Darling Basin. 

The Murray Metering Pilot in the upper Murray and the Murrumbidgee Computer Aided River Management (CARM) project will see, in the first instance, the installation of water meters on nearly 1400 water pumping sites.

Each of these meters will be connected via telemetry within each river system and allow significant improvement in the metering and management of water and water delivery services to water users, as well as minimising water losses associated with the passage of water along each river system.

The capital cost of the meter replacement is fully funded by government and is consistent with the National Water Initiative’s requirement that all water licence holders install meters that meet national standards by 2016.

Both projects are being delivered and managed via our Leeton Office’ , Project Manager Stephen Moore said . ‘ These  exciting  projects enable the Murray- Darling basin to  play a major part in pioneering  river management in Australia'    

Both projects have involved many months of planning and consultation; meter installations are planned to commence in November this year.

State Water Corporation is undertaking both projects with the Murray pilot being funded by the Australian Government, and the Murrumbidgee CARM project being funded by the Australian, New South Wales and Victorian governments Water for Rivers initiative.

Murrumbidgee valley

The metering component of the Murrumbidgee CARM project involves approximately 600 meters.  Metering is just one of five components of the CARM project, which also includes capital works and technology upgrades.

When complete in June 2012, CARM will improve the measurement and monitoring of water flows along the Murrumbidgee system. By reducing water losses from the river system and evaporation during water delivery, this project will significantly increase water use efficiency.

Locally recruited CARM liaison officers have been meeting with those licence holders directly involved since early this year. Open days and information sessions will be held in the coming months but any licence holders wanting further information are encouraged to contact the CARM project hotline on 1300 269 587. 

Comdain Infrastructure have been appointed as the managing contractor and will oversee and direct the initial planning and then installation of meters.

To keep everyone up to date, State Water will soon launch the CARM website, at www.carmproject.com.au. The website will feature fact sheets, a detailed explanation of the project, regular CARM updates and contact details.

Murray pilot area

The Murray pilot project is an important part of the NSW Metering Strategy.  The project will involve the replacement or upgrade of up to 800 new meters  in the upper Murray over two years.

The NSW Water Metering pilot project is funded by the Australian Government’s Water for the Future initiative and provides up to $22 million in the Murray area to improve measurement of water extracted from groundwater, regulated and unregulated water sources.

Early stage consultation has commenced in the Murray pilot area with the appointment of Comdain Infrastructure as the managing contractor. Comdain will oversee and direct the initial planning and then installation of meters in both the Murray pilot and the CARM project in the Murrumbidgee.

State Water is currently notifying licence holders who have been identified for the Murray pilot program.

Successful information sessions were held in February this year, and further information sessions and open days will be held in coming months in the Murray pilot area. Further information on the Murray pilot metering project can be gained by calling the State Water customer service hotline on

1300 662 077 or by visiting the State Water website:

www.statewater.com.au/Current+Projects/NSW+Murray+Pilot+Metering+Project

Quick facts

	Murrumbidgee Metering Project	Murray Pilot Metering Program
Current status	Consultation phase	Consultation phase
Funded by	Water for Rivers, consisting of - NSW Government - VIC Government - Australian Government	Australian Government through the NSW Office of Water
Number of licence holders	Approximately 360	Approximately 600
Number of meters	Approximately 600	Approximately 800
Start date	November 2011	November 2011
Completion date	June 2012	June 2012
Further information	CARM project hotline: 1300 269 587	State Water customer service hotline: 1300 662 077

 

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