Lake Brewster Water Efficiency Project

Location: Lachlan River, 250 km downstream
from Forbes
Storage development: 1952
Storage capacity: 153,400 megalitres
Project cost: $13 million
Funding: The Australian Government,
Lachlan Valley Water, Lachlan Catchement
Management Authority, Department of Water
& Energy and State Water
Start date: January 2008
Expected completion: June 2010
Description: Earthworks and structural
modifications to divide lake into two cells
including inflow and outflow wetlands.

Benefits

  • Water savings up to 10GL.
  • Improve general security reliability.
  • Reduce evaporative losses and improve water flow and delivery.
  • Reduce water ordering time lags below Lake Brewster by up to 18 days.
  • Managed wetlands to improve water quality and habitat in the lake and downstream from the lake.
  • Provide greater certainty of management of water resources for both industry and the environment.

Milestones

  • July 2007 detailed design and environmental approval.
  • July 2007 commence construction.
  • Dec 2008 create an adaptive environmental water access licence.
  • June 2010 completion and commissioning of capital works.
  • Establish wetlands depending on availability of water.

Updates

  • Sept 2007 approval of detail design and environmental assessment.
  • Dec 2007 commence construction.
  • Oct 2008 open day for shareholders and the public.
  • June 2009 approval for an adaptive environmental water access licence.
  • June 2009 completion of major construction.  

Media releases

Lake Brewster project on target
Water savings in Brewster milestone

Contact

Project Manager: Harry Herath
Contact Details: (02) 6841 2062