SA Water infrastructure transfer boosts firefighting response for Yunta

Historical stormwater infrastructure in Yunta is being repurposed and transferred into the community’s hands to improve firefighting capabilities and support the greening of local spaces, as part of an initiative between SA Water and the Yunta District Hall.

Located in South Australia’s north-east, Yunta relied on the stormwater infrastructure – which was previously operated and maintained by SA Water – as one of its sources of non-drinking water, before it was switched off in 2019 to enable an upgrade of the township’s SA Water supply to a drinking water system.

The infrastructure includes two 25-megalitre earth bank storages – originally built in the late 1800s – which were recently transferred to the Yunta District Hall’s ownership.

Once operational, water from the storages will be connected to 5 new tanks at the nearby Yunta Race Club, providing a combined holding capacity of 112,500 litres – more than doubling the town’s non-drinking water storage capacity.

SA Water’s General Manager of Customer, Community and Engagement David Coombe said once Yunta’s water supply was upgraded to a drinking water system as of last year, the stormwater infrastructure was no longer required as part of the utility’s operations.

“This infrastructure has already served the local community for well over a century and through this initiative, it will be given a new lease of life and play an important role in supporting a vital community service, while helping improve the liveability of Yunta for years to come,” David said.

“Our water security assessment confirmed that changing climate conditions and the region’s highly variable rainfall limited the capacity of the existing infrastructure to serve as a reliable supply of water, so it would not be required into the future – especially since we could now supply drinking-quality water.

“Although it was no longer operational, we continued to maintain the infrastructure and collect stormwater to ensure the earth bank storages didn’t deteriorate.

“Pleasingly, this new arrangement provides a practical and mutually beneficial opportunity to repurpose our existing infrastructure, placing it into the hands of a community that can directly benefit from it.

“We are proud to support the transfer of this infrastructure to the volunteer-run Yunta District Hall, who have been formally endorsed by Crown Lands as the new custodians of the land this infrastructure sits on.”

In addition to the 2 earthbank storages, the infrastructure also includes a weir gate system and an extensive catchment network that extends approximately 20 kilometres north, capturing flows that move through the weir gates and into the storages.

The Yunta Race Club currently has a 90,000-litre storage tank that serves as a source of water for its irrigation system, as well as for the SA Country Fire Service (CFS).

Under the new arrangement, water will be pumped to the site and stored in 5 connected 22,500-litre tanks, providing a combined capacity of 112,500 litres. The locally-funded project will also include infrastructure to support access by the Yunta CFS, who are also contributing funding to enable the project.

In an emergency, this will allow CFS crews to drive straight in, position their vehicle under the tank and fill their tankers quickly and safely.

Planning is progressing for a solar-powered pumping system to connect the stormwater storages with the new tanks.

Yunta District Hall Secretary Lisa Crawford, who is also a CFS volunteer, said the benefits of this transfer go beyond supporting the CFS, and will help to improve water security, enhance the local environment and boost tourism.

“We now have a sustainable water source for irrigation that will support revegetation in community spaces like the Yunta Race Club and local community gardens,” Lisa said.

“The Yunta Race Club serves as both a social hub and regional tourism drawcard, providing space for events including the North East Wool Show, Variety Club bashes, Gymkhanas and Motorkhanas. It’s also home to the Yunta Rifle Club.

“We are looking forward to creating greener, cooler spaces, and we are also hoping these improvements will help enhance community wellbeing and elevate visitor experiences in the years to come.”