Gippsland Water - Hazelwood Mine

Background

Gippsland Water is a major regional water authority in Eastern Victoria, Australia. It supplies clean drinking water to over 70,000 customers and provides wastewater services to more than 63,000 across a vast service area exceeding 5,000 square kilometres. The organisation manages an infrastructure network valued at $1 billion, including:

• 2,000+ km of water mains
• 15 water treatment plants
• 1,700+ km of sewer mains
• 14 wastewater treatment facilities

Gippsland Water initiated a project to establish a secure water source for future fire management at the decommissioned Hazelwood power station coal mine.

Challenge

The key requirement was the integration of a reliable flow control and isolation solution into a DN1000 service line dedicated to fire management water supply. Gippsland Water needed a robust valve system capable of managing both minimum and maximum flow rates while mitigating the risks associated with cavitation in a high-pressure environment.

Additionally, supply chain disruptions caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic and a last-minute request for a voltage modification to the actuator further added to the complexity of the project.

Solution

Gippsland Water engaged AVK for their expertise in large-scale valve systems and application-specific engineering support.

Working closely with Gippsland Water’s Bulk Water team, AVK delivered:

• Flow analysis using ACMO's 872 Flow and Cavitation Simulation Tool: This allowed AVK to accurately model system performance under varying conditions and identify the ideal valve size and configuration.
• Selection of a DN1000 Needle Valve: The 872 series valve was found to best meet operational parameters while providing capacity for future flow increases and ensuring cavitation resistance.
• Valve and Actuator Customisation: AVK supplied a DN1000 872 Series Needle Valve paired with a GS Gear Operator and SAR Electric Actuator with AC non-intrusive controls. Additionally, a DN1000 Series 756 Double Eccentric Butterfly Valve was provided, fitted with a Rotork IW series gear operator for enhanced performance and durability.

Outcome

Thanks to strong collaboration, expert technical input and responsive project management, AVK successfully delivered a tailored valve solution that ensures reliable fire management water supply for the Hazelwood site. This project exemplifies effective public-private partnerships in critical infrastructure delivery under challenging conditions.