en.Wedoany.com Reported - South Australia's SA Water is advancing the upgrade of the Morgan to Whyalla Pipeline, aiming to enhance long-term water security for regional communities in the state. The AUD 61.8 million project involves replacing 9.3 kilometers of pipe sections at three locations northwest of Morgan in the Riverland region, along the 358-kilometer pipeline. 
SA Water is implementing the upgrade in partnership with its major framework partner, the McConnell Dowell SRG Global Joint Venture. Originally constructed in the 1940s by the Engineering and Water Supply Department, SA Water's predecessor, the pipeline has been a vital component of the state's drinking water network for approximately 80 years. Initial construction supported World War II efforts and the development of Whyalla, with an additional pipeline built as demand increased. Today, the system supplies about 40% of SA Water's regional water supply, sourced from the River Murray. After treatment at SA Water's Morgan Water Treatment Plant, water is delivered to communities in the Mid North, Yorke Peninsula, and Eyre Peninsula, including major towns such as Port Augusta and Port Pirie, reaching as far west as Ceduna and as far north as Woomera. The pipeline provides drinking water to over 130,000 households and businesses across the state.
Peter Seltsikas, SA Water's General Manager of Sustainable Infrastructure, stated that based on condition assessments and performance, certain pipeline sections have been prioritized for renewal. The current upgrade is part of a multi-decade plan to maintain reliability and support population and commercial growth in regional areas. To date, approximately 30% of the new 813-millimeter diameter mild steel cement-lined pipes have been delivered and installed. The pipeline also features a modern, specialized external coating to ensure durability. Preparatory work began in the second half of 2025, involving extensive excavation, installation of 729 concrete supports (known as pipe saddles), and anchor block concrete structures to provide safe and durable above-ground support for the pipeline. Excavation and concrete work are expected to continue until mid-2026, with pipe sections progressively delivered, installed, and welded within the remaining work areas. The upgrade will involve 770 pipe sections, each 12.2 meters long, connected using socket welding.
In 2022, following consultations with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), renewal work was paused to allow for additional environmental surveys along the pipeline route. The surveys focused on threatened and endangered flora and fauna species and communities, including the Mallee Bird Community, Iron-grass Natural Temperate Grassland, and potential habitat for the Pygmy Blue-tongue lizard. The Mallee Bird Community comprises 20 bird species, including the nationally endangered Malleefowl, Black-eared Miner, and South-Eastern Hooded Robin, as well as the nationally vulnerable Southern Whiteface. After years of environmental assessments, studies, and consultations, SA Water received approval from DCCEEW in November 2024 to resume work under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Approval for the resumption of work was based on evidence showing no impact on the Pygmy Blue-tongue lizard and the Iron-grass Natural Temperate Grassland community. SA Water engaged specialist contractors for pre-clearance habitat assessments, animal relocation, and design advice to ensure full compliance with environmental requirements. The construction schedule has been adjusted to avoid vegetation clearing during the bird breeding season from July to November, with further restrictions on machinery use in sensitive breeding habitat areas. Other mitigation measures include narrowing the construction corridor (temporary work area along the pipeline), avoiding hollow-bearing trees where possible, and supporting vegetation regeneration. Felled trees are repurposed for new wildlife habitats, and seed-bearing material is retained and redistributed on site. Post-construction temporary fencing will remain in place to protect regenerated areas.
Seltsikas stated that these additional measures reflect SA Water's commitment to delivering critical infrastructure while assuming environmental responsibility. This two-year upgrade is the first phase of a long-term renewal plan that will replace the pipeline section by section over the coming decades, ensuring a resilient and reliable drinking water supply for residents in regional South Australia. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.
For Mark Marschall, SA Water's Capital Delivery Manager for Water Construction, the Morgan to Whyalla Pipeline is not only critical infrastructure but also a core part of his family history. Mark Marschall is the fourth generation of the Marschall family closely associated with this major pipeline system, following in the footsteps of his father Allan, grandfather Dave, and great-grandfather Ben. Together, they have worked for SA Water for nearly 120 years, with connections to the pipeline including maintaining nearby public gardens, painting pump stations, and serving as caretakers of the Morgan Water Treatment Plant. Soon, a fifth generation of Marschalls will join SA Water, with Mark Marschall's 17-year-old nephew set to become a new apprentice later this year.
