Burrows, Damien W. (1998) Reed beds pump station and pipeline environmental review. Report. James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia.

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Abstract

[Extract] The Queensland Department of Natural Resources (QDNR) proposes to construct a 800m long pipeline between Healy's Lagoon and a second lagoon on the eastern side of Reed Beds Road. Currently, water is transported between these two locations via a channel. It is proposed to lay a pipeline into this channel, which will then be in-filled. A pump station will be installed at Healy’s Lagoon to pump water into the pipeline. The water in the second lagoon is released to Reed Beds Lagoon via an existing channel. A pump is present at the southern end of Reed Beds Lagoon to pump water for agricultural purposes. QDNR proposes to construct a low level weir at this location to prevent this water escaping into Reed Beds Lagoon as currently occurs. It is also proposed to lower the water level in Healy's Lagoon, which is currently elevated by the incoming irrigation water. This will also lower the surrounding groundwater table.

According to the Initial Advice Statement received for this study from QDNR, the current system has three major problems. Firstly, approximately 30% of the pumped water is lost to the irrigators either in the channels or into Reed Beds Lagoon (McKinnon 1996). Secondly, the need to maintain Healy's Lagoon at an artificially high level, in order for water to flow along the channels to the irrigators' pumps downstream, has resulted in an elevated water table in the area. There is some concern that this may lead to salinity problems in the future. Additionally, the elevated groundwater levels are likely to be causing increased surface water run-off during rainfall events, reducing the ability of the system to capture this water for irrigation use. Thirdly, there are significant costs associated with maintaining the water delivery channel free of weeds. A cost-benefit analysis of options for this project has been prepared by QDNR (McKinnon 1996). This recommended that a short lift option be followed. This entailed pumping water from Healy's Lagoon into the distribution channel. The adopted option of a short pipeline was not recommended in that report. However, that report was an economic analysis and did not take into account operational requirements. Likewise, the option of doing nothing had a favourable cost-benefit ratio but did not meet operational requirements such as lowering of the groundwater levels around Healy's Lagoon.

The Australian Centre for Tropical Freshwater Research (ACTFR) was commissioned by QDNR to assess the impact of this proposal on the flora, fauna and ecology of the habitats present.

Item ID:	36639
Item Type:	Report (Report)
Additional Information:	A report prepared for the Queensland Department of Natural Resources. Report No. 98/14
Funders:	Queensland Department of Natural Resources
Date Deposited:	14 Dec 2016 01:42
FoR Codes:	05 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 0502 Environmental Science and Management > 050205 Environmental Management @ 100%
SEO Codes:	96 ENVIRONMENT > 9606 Environmental and Natural Resource Evaluation > 960604 Environmental Management Systems @ 100%
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