MILLEWA PIPELINE PROJECT
– Historical perspective.
Prior to my being sent to Merbein to look after the Millewa Project I was employed at SR&WSC Melbourne in Wimmera-Mallee Division where my main tasks were to design new town dams/extensions in various W-M towns so that they would hold 12 months capacity and avoid extra channel runs.
Towns included Ouyen, Berriwillock, Birchip, Culgoa, Nullawil and a lot of travel on my part.
All replaced by pipes now, and Ouyen has recreational boating.
In January 1971 I was relocated to Merbein to manage construction of the Millewa pipeline project.
At that time, the 12 inch AC pipe from Cullulleraine to Bambill South dam had been installed and the system was ready for expansion and connections.
The arrangement was that SR&WSC were responsible for design and installation of the pipelines, and Soil Conservation Authority (Alistair Stirling, based in Mildura) responsible for location of high point tank and on farm distribution design.
SR&WSC provided up to a mile of pipe to tank.
I interpreted the figure of one mile loosely.
The pipelines construction was done in stages, contracts being let for supply and installation, with designs done in Melbourne.
Supplies were metered at each outlet and Dole valves installed to control flow.
Air valves were installed at high points and every 500 ft, with scour valves at low points.
Marker posts were installed for location.
These were originally PVC stormwater pipes but some local farm boys had fun knocking them over, so I arranged for them to be filled with cement!
AC (asbestos-cement) pipe sections used for air valve surrounds were subject to damage and these were replaced by concrete pipe sections.
My first job was to deliver a plan to each landowner showing details of the pipeline easement.
This process of personal approach enabled me to establish relations with each landowner, and good friendships, such as Eric & Heather Yates, Stewart and Elaine Hards.
Also, early in the process, I noticed that the water level in the Bambill South dam (capacity 42 million gallons) was falling too rapidly.
Evaporation was about 5 feet per year and drawdown was minimal.
Investigations by a diver revealed the leakage problem and bentonite was pumped in to seal.
Fortunately that worked and the dam did not have to be drained.
All pipes were to be PVC, except for a couple of lines in asbestos cement (AC).
AC could not be used under 8 inch due to potential for beam breakage.
Manufacturers of alternative materials, polyethylene and reinforced concrete, requested inclusion in the designs, so the work was done to change the plans.
However, those materials were uncompetitive.
The first contract was let to R M Eastmond (Mal) , Renmark for 131,000 feet of solvent weld jointed PVC, starting at Bambill Sth, south west corner of intersection where Telecom repeater station was located.
Kevin Bird was the site foreman and we had a good relationship.
The excavation of rock (limestone) was an allowed extra per cubic yard.
Excavation of rock was slow and in some cases blasting was necessary.
Kevin and I had to agree to the volume excavated in each case.
It was during this contract that I would sometimes call on Stewart and Elaine for a chat and cup of tea.
Subsequent contracts were let to D G Harding, Adelaide based.
They employed rubber ring jointed PVC and asbestos cement.
With their technique they could lay one mile of 8 inch AC per day.
Their site foreman was Ted Seymour and I had good relations with him also.
I returned to Melbourne in August, 1973 to take up a position with Humes Ltd.
In 2000, whilst employed by Vinidex, I collaborated with Alan Whittle, my counterpart with Iplex Pipelines, to produce a research paper to evaluate the current condition of the PVC pipes.
With the cooperation of Rural Water Corporation, pipes were inspected, exhumed, and exhaustively tested.
Our report was published and presented at the Plastics Pipes XI conference in Munich, Germany.
Michael Stahmer
MIE Aust CPEng (Ret)
Specialist Consultant Plastics Pipes
November, 2025