4 August 2023
Following completion of a tree harvesting program at East Gippsland Water’s Mallacoota Water Recycling facility, work is now underway to repair and reinstate the irrigation system.
During the 2019/2020 East Gippsland bushfires, the majority of the 50-hectare tree plantation and irrigation system at the Mallacoota facility was damaged. Harvesting the damaged tree plantation was part of the remediation works following the fires. Repairs to the irrigation system could not be completed until the tree harvesting program was complete.
East Gippsland Water Executive Manager Service Delivery, Neville Pearce, said: “It has taken some time to complete the tree harvesting program due to contractor delays and wet ground conditions but now that the works are complete, it is great to see the team at Mallacoota are able to undertake the irrigation repairs. Once the repairs are complete, we will be able to irrigate the area with our recycled water when required.”
“The team have been taking advantage of the great dry weather and have already completed 25 hectares of repair work with another 25 hectares to be completed in the next few weeks.”
In addition, the team recently took delivery of their very own 25 ton brand new excavator, and have been putting the machine to great use during completion of the irrigation works.
Ends
The images show Mat Strong, Operations and Maintenance team member carefully locating the irrigation systems using the new excavator to scrape away the top layers of soil and District Manager Dan Marsden and Water Industry Trainee Chloe Henderson, undertaking irrigation repairs.
