East Gippsland Water has successfully completed high-profile repairs to a water main at Swan Reach, ensuring continued water supply to local communities without disruption. The water main, which passes under the Tambo River, supplies drinking water to Swan Reach, Lakes Entrance, Lake Tyers Beach, and Nowa Nowa.
Dr Hamish Reid, General Manager Service Delivery at East Gippsland Water, said the complex repair was completed efficiently thanks to the dedication of staff and contractors.
“This was a challenging repair due to the location of the leak beneath the Tambo River, but our team worked tirelessly, including after hours and over the weekend, to ensure it was fixed as quickly as possible,” Dr Reid said.
“We used a slip lining method, which involves pulling a new, slightly smaller pipe through the existing pipeline. This approach allowed us to restore the integrity of the water main while minimising disruption to the riverbank and surrounding environment.”
In order to pass under the river, the water main is approximately 14 metres below ground level at the riverbank. The new main was pressure tested above ground before it was installed.
During the works, customers continued to receive treated water from East Gippsland Water’s storage in Lakes Entrance. Traffic management was also in place to ensure safety around work sites, and affected stakeholders, including local schools, were kept informed throughout the process.
“We want to thank the community for their patience and understanding while we carried out these essential repairs. Our team is committed to ensuring a safe and secure water supply, and we are pleased to have resolved this issue with no impact to customers,” Dr Reid said.
The leak was initially identified following a report from a community member who noticed pooling water near the pipeline.
East Gippsland Water is in the process of reinstating the site.
It was a collaborative effort to repair a link in a water main at Swan Reach. Pictured are some of the East Gippsland Water team with contractors MTB Underground Solutions and Jarvis Norwood. CAL Civil and CrossCo Consulting also contributed to the success of the project.