SA Water is laying the first of the new 1200mm diameter pipes across Adelaide’s northern suburbs using trenchless technology.
Already more than 3500m of new trunk water main has been installed across four locations in the northern suburbs.
Work is now underway to install 2400m of giant 1200mm diameter trunk water main beneath Petherton Road in Davoren Park, with crews working east towards Elizabeth North to increase the local water network’s capacity and enable more homes to be built in development area Riverlea.
A second crew has also begun installing pipes along Woodford Road in Elizabeth North towards Whiteparish Road as part of the upgrade.
Each crew is starting at either end of the pipe alignment and will work concurrently until they meet in the middle at the Gawler rail line at Broadmeadows Station.
Crews are utilising horizontal directional drilling (HDD) to install the section of trunk main under the rail line without any interruption to train services.
This work will involve operating a HDD to install a 36m long sleeve under the track for the pipe to be pushed through to a retrieval trench on the other side.
Given the rail track’s importance and to provide more protection, these pipes will also be encased in a slightly larger pipe to help prevent any damage to the track in the event of a leak.
These new trunk mains – which will duplicate existing pipes throughout Adelaide’s north – are critical to supplying more water into Riverlea to unlock capacity for new homes, while maintaining reliable water pressure to existing SA Water customers.
With further pipe installations planned for delivery during the next four years, these mains will eventually connect into new pipes currently being installed along Angle Vale Road and will be supplied by SA Water’s storage tank in Elizabeth East.
This first stage of enabling work is expected to be completed early 2026.
South Australian Minister for Housing and Urban Development and for Planning Nick Champion said minimising disruptions to locals was at the forefront of planning.
“For the first time in more than a decade we are installing 1200mm diameter pipes, which will build capacity in the system and enable future growth,” he said.
“Crews are employing innovative methods and doing everything they can to reduce the impact on the local community.
“Without these new pipes, SA Water’s network would be at the absolute limit of its capacity and no new houses would be getting built.”
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