Western Harbour Tunnel, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Aurecon is transforming Sydney Harbour, replacing dredging with TBM tunnel engineering to deliver a faster, safer and more sustainable second harbour crossing.
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Bordertown, a thriving South Australian community, is currently experiencing significant growth. To put this into context, during the next 5 to 10 years, Bordertown expects an influx of 28 industrial sites, 200 residential properties, and an 80-bed commercial facility.
As this rate of growth is realised, increasing demands will be placed on the town’s water network – challenging its capacity to support new connections.
The town relies solely on a borefield with limited extraction due to naturally-occurring high salinity and iron. Groundwater is pumped from the borefield via a cement main to a 0.45 ML elevated tank. This network configuration has no alternative water sources or additional storage capacity for future development.
This prevents SA Water from offering connections for future developments, and also presents risks to the town’s security and its ability to meet future water demand.
Initial project planning in 2018 proposed increased water storage as a solution. However, following consultation with the District Council of Tatiara, this solution was deemed unsuitable. Together with SA Water, Aurecon worked to reimagine the project, moving away from the original proposal of an 18 ML storage tank, two pump stations, and a 12 km transfer main. Instead, an optimised solution was developed:
By collaborating with the District Council of Tatiara, conducting a rigorous re-evaluation of network modelling and undertaking stakeholder engagement, SA Water and Aurecon delivered a blueprint for a fit-for-purpose infrastructure upgrade. The revised approach saves $7.3 million in capital costs, reduces environmental impact, aligns with local development needs and maintains resilience and service continuity.
This project secures Bordertown’s water reliability and resilience, directly supporting economic development and community growth by enabling new industrial and residential developments; and fostering local employment. The saved capital also unlocks reinvestment into other priority projects, amplifying community benefits.
Through close collaboration with stakeholders, the project ensures alignment with long-term regional goals, enhancing trust and creating a sustainable model for future infrastructure initiatives.
The Australian water industry, much like those in other parts of the world, is grappling with significant challenges around water security and reliability. These issues are exacerbated by geographical constraints, climate change and population growth, all of which place immense pressure on the quantity and quality of available water resources. Bordertown faces similar challenges, relying on a single borefield with limited extraction.
SA Water’s approach to addressing these issues has been comprehensive, focusing on sustainable infrastructure solutions that balance costs with long-term benefits. The optimised infrastructure not only reduces embodied and operational carbon emissions but also minimises the environmental footprint by eliminating unnecessary construction. By carefully calibrating borefield extraction rates and ensuring balanced system resilience, the project aims to deliver essential services in a way that protects natural resources and mitigates future climate-related challenges.
This project provides a model for other towns in similar regions facing water supply challenges, offering a replicable model that balances growth and sustainability. This initiative aligns with SA Water's sustainability targets and supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), demonstrating a commitment to promoting a sustainable future for both local and regional communities.
The Bordertown Water Supply Upgrade is a testament to the power of collaborative design and innovative problem-solving. It sets a benchmark for how communities can overcome infrastructure challenges while balancing cost, sustainability, water quality and resilience.
Beyond the benefits brought by technical achievements, the project will attract regional businesses and support the growth of local communities, ensuring Bordertown remains a vibrant and economically viable town. With concept design complete and detailed design underway, SA Water is on track to deliver a strategic asset that will benefit future generations and address complex water supply issues over the long term.
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