Reports › Report to Ratepayers
Kaywanna Bore Water Board Chairman’s Annual Report - 24 June 2024
The scheme has continued to operate well. However, during the past 28 years, hundreds of hours of maintenance has been carried out, mostly by volunteers. It is not a ‘set and forget’ system. Mostly, this maintenance is not particularly demanding but the system does need monitoring.
Early in September 2023, there was a leak near the ‘Warrabri’ house (next to their solar array). This was repaired by Shane from ‘Warrabri’.
On 19th September 2023, Bill Davison and I went to the small leak on ‘Jindabyne’. This was mentioned in my last report. This is approximately 1.9 km south of the ‘Jindabyne’/’Litchfield’ boundary near the change in pipe size from 63mm to 50mm. Although the leak was small, it had been leaking for a long time and the ground was very wet, boggy and difficult.
It was excavated with difficulty and Bill had something of a mud bath. An ‘O’ ring in a joiner a metre north of double air valve (DAV) 22470 had a kink in it. A lot of water ran from the disconnection and Bill had to go and get his trailer and pump. The leak was repaired, the gate valves were excavated and had shrouds refitted. The area was cleared of regrowth and marker pegs replaced. This was a fairly big job. An inspection on 1st October found it has all worked well.
A periodic inspection at Boogara on 3rd January 2024 found that the dialler appeared to be set correctly but was not switching to messages when phoned. Several months ago, I arranged for Laser Electrical to replace this old dialler (the new ones are very similar). This has not happened to date. The filter from the supply tank was cleaned. The pumps would not shut down when the delivery line was closed. This is caused by the check valves not closing properly allowing water to recirculate. This is caused by algae contamination. New check valves and special tools will be required. These pumps deliver approximately 13 to 14 ML per year to ‘Arden Downs’, ‘Tori’, ‘Aranyi’ and ‘Sherwood’.
I returned to Boogara on 7th January to further determine what would be needed to replace the check valves. It is not a simple job with critical measurements to consider. I sprayed weeds that were growing from the leaking storage tank and mowed the yard at the main bore. I returned again to Boogara on 2nd February but found I needed additional special tools for the check valves.
George Clark mowed the main bore yards on 3rd February (on his own initiative).
On 20th February, we received a formal application from Richard Golden, to change the bore delivery arrangements on ‘Box Yards’. On 7th March, Bill Davison and I went to ‘Box Yards’ and measured the unrestricted flow rates at BO3 and also at (single air valve) SAV 500 noting elevations and ‘chainage’ (distances). We determined that the request from Mr. Golden could not be achieved with the existing infrastructure. Subsequently, Mr. Golden engaged Don Sudholz for professional hydraulic advice. This was received in late May. It will require the installation of 1074 metres of 50mm specified poly pipe to the new proposed tank location.
Also on 7th March, Bill and I used special tools to replace the check valves at Boogara. These valves will be easier to clean without removal. This solved the problem of water recirculation and the pumps shut off when the delivery line was turned off.
In May, a 50mm line was damaged on ‘Venture Downs’ and repaired by David Woods. This area needs to be inspected because years of erosion have exposed the pipeline in a cultivated field. The ‘fix’ will have to be determined – it may need some relocating of the line.
On 22nd June 2024, I inspected Boogara. The check new valves were fouled with algae, allowing pump recirculation when the delivery line was closed. I cleaned the check valves and solved this problem for now. However, these were new in March so the algae problem requires periodic attention. The storage tank is leaking and always looks worse in winter with less evaporation. This tank will need replacing. I mowed 3⁄4 of the main bore yards but ran out of daylight (and energy).
Nothing more has been received from George Clark about the proposed new storage tank on ‘Sherwood’ (refer last year’s report – these reports are on our website).
The SMS alarm system at Kalala is working. This requires the SIM card to be recharged ($320) every January (the 4th I think). It is in my name (has to be an individual). If this is not done, it will cease functioning.
On an annualized basis to 22nd June 2024, the scheme has pumped 88.04 megalitres (83.8 ml last year) or 2.8 litres/second. The solar array cannot be read because the perspex is obscured and the cover does not remove easily. 3,559 kw were exported to the grid (last year 4,277 kw). Total electricity consumed at the main bore (from supplier) was 33,469 kw (last year 30,353 kw). If not for the solar array, electricity supplied would be around more than 40% higher. Pump hours were about 4,360 hours for the year (last year 3,700). The totals on the screen are not accurate. Some pumps have been replaced years ago and it was all ‘zeroed’ when the new control panel was installed many years ago.
In the near future, there are several matters to attend to. The Golden installation, the tank at Boogara, the line problem at ‘Venture Downs’ and the roof of the main cooling tank. Sunlight entering the cooling tank is exacerbating the algae problems. The storage tank will need cleaning.
We have a new submersible pump in my shed in town. The submersible is due for replacement in 2025 (7 years). It may be best to see if we could get Andrew Williams to do this – he would install a new system to make raising the submersible much easier.
Our financial situation remains very sound. I extend thanks to those who have assisted. I will not be rejoining the Board after the elections (November?) however, I am not going anywhere and can still assist.
Geoff Woods
Chairman
Kaywanna Bore Water Board
C/- Findex 24 Mclean Street GOONDIWINDI 4390