EPBC Heritage Management Plan Goldfields Water Supply Scheme, Main Conduit, Western Australia
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Job No. 16112 EPBC Heritage Management Plan Goldfields Water Supply Scheme, Main Conduit, Western Australia Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 Prepared on behalf of Water Corporation of Western Australia August 2016 ABN 91 277 671 706 1/315 Rokeby Road, Subiaco Western Australia 6008 Telephone 08 9381 1666 Facsimile 08 9381 1566 [email protected] www.griffithsarchitects.com.au Cover: GWSS Conduit near Meckering, Griffiths Architects (April 2016) Revision History Date of this revision: 04 May 2017 Document Version Author Status Date Distribution Management Plan 06 Griffiths Architects Referral Draft 04 May 2017 DoE + WC Management Plan 05 Griffiths Architects Referral Draft 06 April 2017 Water Corporation Management Plan 04 Griffiths Architects First Submission 18 Aug 2016 DoE + WC Management Plan 03 Griffiths Architects Final Draft 11 Aug 2016 Water Corporation + NT Management Plan 02 Griffiths Architects Draft 05 July 2016 Water Corporation + NT Management Plan 01 Griffiths Architects Draft 29 June 2016 Water Corporation Executive Summary Executive Summary Introduction The Goldfields Water Supply Scheme (GWSS) is an enormous engineering achievement that brought important benefits to the Goldfields, towns and later agricultural districts along its path. The pipeline was completed in 1903 and spans some 560km between Mundaring and Kalgoorlie. The system continues to operate today, and during its lifetime much has been upgraded, replaced and renewed. The main conduit is included on the National Heritage List (NHL) (place ID 106007) which includes pump stations, reservoirs and tanks. Ownership of the various parts of the system are segmented between different parties, with a number of historic non-operational steam pump stations vested with the National Trust of Australia (WA). This heritage management plan (HMP) concerns heritage management responsibilities for the main conduit by the Water Corporation of Western Australia. The pipeline was originally buried below ground, but the frequency of leaks led to it being excavated and raised above ground during the 1930s. The pipeline has been continually maintained, upgraded and increased in capacity since the time of its construction, almost half of the operational pipeline remains made up of original locking bar pipes. Objective This HMP was prepared to assist the Water Corporation to comply with legislative requirements under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999 (EPBC Act). It also assists in the understanding and conservation of the heritage values of the pipeline and offers practical policies that recognise the operational needs of the pipeline. Management The Water Corporation of Western Australia, under the State Government of Western Australia, owns and operates the main conduit, and is responsible for the service and infrastructure of the scheme. Obligations The GWSS is the principal means of water supply to the Goldfields and Wheatbelt. Providing drinking water safely and efficiently is the primary operational consideration of the pipeline, and to do so the pipeline must be maintained, repaired, and upgraded periodically. National heritage values of the GWSS must be maintained, and obligations related to the main conduit arising from the national heritage values must be considered and to the extent possible, protected. Heritage Management Plan | Goldfields Water Supply Scheme | August 2016 i Contents Contents Executive Summary .................................................................................................................................. i List of Figures ......................................................................................................................................... iv List of Photographs ................................................................................................................................. v 1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1. The Place ................................................................................................................................. 1 1.2. Terms and Acronyms ............................................................................................................... 1 1.3. Objective ................................................................................................................................. 1 1.4. Heritage Listings ...................................................................................................................... 2 1.5. Methodology ........................................................................................................................... 3 1.6. Authors .................................................................................................................................... 3 1.7. Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................... 3 2. Location ........................................................................................................................................... 3 2.1. Maps ........................................................................................................................................ 4 3. Historic Background ...................................................................................................................... 10 3.1. Chronology ............................................................................................................................ 10 3.2. History .................................................................................................................................... 10 3.3. Post Construction History of the Main Conduit..................................................................... 34 4. Place Description .......................................................................................................................... 35 4.1. Definition of place ................................................................................................................. 35 4.2. Description of Main Conduit ................................................................................................. 36 4.3. Current Condition .................................................................................................................. 37 4.4. Current situation .................................................................................................................... 37 4.5. Photographs .......................................................................................................................... 38 5. Significance ................................................................................................................................... 45 5.1. Official Values ........................................................................................................................ 45 5.2. Statement of Significance ...................................................................................................... 47 5.3. Other listings ......................................................................................................................... 49 6. Opportunities and Constraints ...................................................................................................... 50 6.1. Obligations ............................................................................................................................ 50 6.2. Operational requirements ..................................................................................................... 50 6.3. Decision making process ....................................................................................................... 50 7. Heritage Management Policy ....................................................................................................... 51 7.1. Policy Summary ..................................................................................................................... 51 7.2. Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 51 7.3. Policy for new pipeline .......................................................................................................... 51 7.4. Policy for Interpretive and Retained Sites ............................................................................. 53 7.5. Policy for Location of Interpretive and Retained Sites .......................................................... 53 7.6. Policy for non-operational locking bar or Kellerberrin pipeline ............................................ 54 ii Heritage Management Plan | Goldfields Water Supply Scheme | August 2016 Contents 7.7. Policy for non-operational MSCL pipeline ............................................................................. 55 7.8. Policy for removal of locking bar and Kellerberrin pipeline .................................................. 55 7.9. Policy for unused anchor blocks ............................................................................................ 56 7.10. Policy for interpretive sites .................................................................................................... 57 7.11. Policy for pipeline display at presented interpretive sites ...................................................