January 2020

$100 million to help primary producers recover from fires The Federal Government has announced an initial $100 million in emergency funding to help farm, fish and forestry businesses in fire-affected areas rebuild. Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, said the government would provide up to $75,000 in grants for farming businesses in fire-affected regions, with the funding

Manual pumps enlisted after lighting strike damages reservoir Armidale Regional Council in NSW is running pumps manually during the day to partially restore water pressure to homes in the affected area during high and moderate-use periods, while permanent repairs are being undertaken at the reservoir. Armidale Regional Council’s General Manager – Businesses, Scot MacDonald, said

SA Water improves water services with bluetooth technology As part of a South Australian-first process to improve water services, SA Water’s Crystal Brook-based maintenance team is using new bluetooth technology to assist in opening and shutting water main valves. The innovative technology connects with a hands-free extendable arm to remotely open and shut water main

Water purification system headed to fire-ravaged Kangaroo Island An Air Force C-17A Globemaster has flown from Brisbane to Adelaide with a water purification and desalination system (WPDS) to supply drinking water to residents on fire-ravaged Kangaroo Island.  The system has been delivered to RAAF Base Edinburgh, north of Adelaide, for transportation by road and ferry

Bushfire damage to water infrastructure creates water quality concerns With an ongoing bushfire crisis across NSW and Australia, many regional and metropolitan areas around NSW are facing water quality concerns. In some areas of the state, drinking water treatment plants have been physically damaged by fire or impacted by fire-related power outages, causing a loss

Australia’s bushfire crisis Pump Industry magazine is back on board for 2020, and while there is plenty happening in the sector, we understand that for many parts of Australia currently affected by the devastating bushfire crisis – things are not business-as-usual. Australia’s catastrophic 2019-20 bushfire season has so far resulted in 23 deaths, more than