PHOTOS; STATE LIBRARY OF VICTORIA
Argus (Melbourne, Vic.: 1848 -
1957), Wednesday 15 February 1939, page 3
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
COLIBAN WATER!
Sir-
An unbroken supply in the
watering season is of prime importance in every irrigation system, and, in this
country, where water is so valuable and the whole controllable supply limited,
it is of like importance that, as far as possible, no water that could be used
be allowed to run to waste Unfortunately, owing to Nature's extremely erratic
way of sending her supplies, neither of these ideals can be achieved, and, in
practice, an in between course has to be followed, some failure of supplies
must occur, and some water must pass uncontrolled. Just where this in-between
course lies has to be estimated from past experience The Coliban district has
the record of over 60 years as a guide and the existing planned annual output
and size of storage are based on this record, and cannot be departed from
without danger. Surely it is wrong to
ignore the information so laboriously obtained, and turn to guess-work as a
guide The Water Commission, of course knows all this and has repeatedly advised
against increased storage, yet the cry is ‘More and yet more storage’
The idea of obtaining water from
some other source is unsound. Even If
such is available It would only be at the expense of some other district where
water is equally needed. As for pumped
supplies (except possibly in grave emergency) why consider raising water
perhaps 600 feet when that same water could be used to even better effect where
it would come from without any pumping'
If the Castlemaine Water Users'
Association were to concentrate on the improvement of irrigation practice it
might achieve great things, not more storage, is needed but research and more
research! That is a thing that can be agitated for quite legitimately, because
the whole state would share In benefits gained in that way
More storage will come in the
future when urban needs warrant it, but not now with the idea that it would
benefit irrigations hard saying, perhaps but none the less true –
Yours, etc
GUY BERRY,
Formerly engineer in charge of
the Coliban district. Camberwell.
Argus (Melbourne, Vic.: 1848 -
1957), Saturday 18 February 1939, page 2
COLIBAN WATER
Sir-
I disagree with some at least of
Mr Guy Berry's statements speaking as a user of Coliban water for close on 70
years and having a close knowledge of the workings of the scheme The Coliban
scheme was entered into to provide water for Castlemaine and surrounding mining
districts.
For many years the Malmsbury reservoir was
sufficient for this purpose but the channels were extended to Harcourt for
orchard irrigation to Bendigo and then to an extent save area for
tomato-growers and other irrigationists. The Upper Coliban reservoir was built
but even this failed to supply the vastly increased demand.
To make matters worse the Expedition Pass
reservoir near Chewton was allowed practically to silt up with granite sand
from the Faraday catchment
The tragic part of the whole
business is that only one third of the water released from Malmsbury reaches
the consumer, the other two-thirds was lost in transit through leaks and faults
in the open channels. For a few years past the Water Commission has been
concrete lining the channels at the worst patches and so has prevented some of
the loss.
With sound channels the two reservoirs at
Malmsbury would supply twice as many users as at present. In the meantime, the orchardists, tomato growers,
sluicers and many others are facing stark ruin and the splendid apple export
trade has received a setback from which it will take many years to recover
-Yours, etc,
IRRIGATOR.
Kyneton Guardian (Vic. : 1870 -
1881; 1914 - 1918), Saturday 14 September 1872, page 3
THE COLIBAN SCHEME.
During the discussion upon the
Public Loan Bill in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday night Mr Mackay gave
the following information as to tie intentions of the Government with reference
to the Coliban Scheme :—He proposed to layn some information before the House
with regard to the proposed expenditure of money. He believed that Colonel
Sankey's estimate of the cost of completing tls Coliban works was about
£1,200,000, but it was well known that bis estimate was based on a somewhat large
view of the question. One important item in Colonel Sankey's estimate was the
construction of an upper reservoir on the Coliban watershed at a cost of
£185,000; but "he (Mr Mackay) would not dream of asking the House to spend
any more money in the construction of additional reservoirs on that watershed
before ascertaining whether tin present works could actually be successfully carried
out. Mr Gordon proposed to spend £250,000 upon the Coliban waterworks. His
estimate was— repairs to Malmsbury reservoir, £5,000; repairs to outlet tower
and valves, £500; and channel to 18 miles, £15,000. His estimate for repairing the
Back Creek syphon was nothing, and in consequence of the present high price of
iron he supposed that the salt of the old pipes would realise sufficient to lay
a pipe of smaller diameter across the valley. A portion of the existing syphon
could be utilised. It was found, however, that the tenders for the old pipes
were lower than anticipated. and did not realise £7,500, and therefore about
£750 would be required for the Back Creek syphon. Mr Gordon estimated that to
complete the channel from 15 miles to Fryerstown, including improvements to
Expedition Pass and Barker's Creek reservoirs, but excluding Western channel
and Campbell's Creek channel, would require £35,000 ; to supply Sandhurst
district including Eaglehawk. whether by the continuation of the main channel
from 18 miles to Spring Gully head and thence by mains or open channels, or
from local sources, £60,000, and for supervision £10,000.
making £155,000. For the upper Malmsbury reservoir, incduding purchase of land £95,000 making a total of £250,000.-. All of this,
would, not be required for carrying out the Coliban waterworks, as the
Government did not intend to make any outlay upon another reservoir for the
Coliban. Mr Gordon had no doubt the sum now asked for would be sufficient at
all events to enable the Government to ascertain whether the Malmsbury works
were really serviceable. Mr Gordon -pointed out that Colonel Sankey's
estimate,' included £84,000 for interest, £17,000 for Anderson's-flat
reservoir, £7,585 tor Back Creek syphon, £185,000 for upper reservoir, also
repairs to; reservoir .and reticulation in 1 Castlemaine, some of which works
had already been performed. His total estimate was £632,000 in excess of what
had already been expended. Mr Gordon proposed to expend £250,000.
Bendigo Advertiser (Vic.: 1855 -
1918), Wednesday 19 January 1870, page 3
THE COLIBAN WATERWORKS.
The special reporter of the
Telegraph writing on the progress of the works states: From Elphinstone to the
commencement of tunnel No 1, at eighteen miles from Malmsbury, the excavation
is wholly in a granite country, the sides, arid in many parts the bottom,
requiring to be pitched to prevent scour. On this length there occurs the
largest amount of the excavation yet requiring completion, together with one
accommodation bridge, and several storm water crossings. At the end of the main
aqueduct at eighteen miles, the race divides into two branches of equal size,
one conveying the water, to the right, into Sandhurst, the other into the
Castlemaine district; and at this point there is a pitched basin with sluice
gates and overflow weir, to be constructed. When these works, of which I have
given this description, are complete, together with that to be prepared under a
small separate contract for constructing the aqueduct under the railway
embankment near Elphinstone, the waters of the Coliban River can be diverted
into Tunnel .No 1 through which it will flow direct into the Expedition Pass
Reservoir, situated on Forest Creek; but it must not be presumed that the
Coliban scheme is then completed, even as regards the Castlemaine district,
for, in order to render the water of any value, it must lie conducted along
small branch lines to Fryerstown and Barker's Creek. The surveys tor these
branch lines having been completed, and the cost of them estimated as under
L30,000 to construct as far as is at present necessary, it is much to be
regretted that they are not at once proceeded with, so that there may be no
further delay in delivering the water after the completion of the eighteen
miles of the main trunk line. It is difficult to comprehend the reasons upon
which it has been determined to complete thia main line only, leaving these
branches untouched, for the works will be as valueless when the water can only
be poured down the natural channel of Forest Creek as they are now. The hon the
Minister of Mines explained to the House that the Government did not propose to
proceed with the Sandhurst portion of the scheme until the value of the
Castlemaine portion had been tested in practice, so that to defer the
commencement of the branch races in the Castlemaine district, without which the
water cannot, benefit a single individual, is indefinitely to postpone the con
sideration of the claims of Sandhurst to the completion of their supply. It
would appear to me that, as the country is paying interest upon | the cost of
the works at present constructed, then proper course to save unnecessary waste
would be | to construct these branch races immediately, and at least these two
distributing lines in efficient working order as early as possible; the Coliban
water could then be diverted along them during next summer, and thus at the
right season, of the year, test to some extent the practical value of the
scheme; and if this prove promising to push forward the Sandhurst works with
all possible vigour. Unless this course he adopted at once, the Coliban scheme
will, during the next summer, to both Sandhurst and Castlemaine, be as if it
did not exist. If the influential residents in the districts interested would
assist their members in bringing this matter forward, the necessity of adopting
the course I have suggested is so obvious that there can be no doubt the
objects could be attained; and as the neglect of this seriously prejudices
their interests, and those of their constituents, it is to be hoped we shall
soon hear of some action on this important point being taken."
Colonial Mining Journal, Railway and Share Gazette (Vic. : 1858 - 1859), Thursday 2 December 1858, page 8,9
THE BENDIGO WATER WORKS.
In our last issue we made reference to the scheme by which it is proposed to provide the Bendigo district with a copious and permanent supply of water, for mining and general domestic purposes. On that occasion we promised to lay the details of the undertaking before our readers at an early date: and in redeeming the pledge at this time, we have to acknowledge with thanks the kindness of Mr. Brady, engineer to the Bendigo Water Works Company, to whom we are mainly indebted for the plan and particulars which we are now enabled to publish.
Before, however, entering into a detailed explanation of the scheme itself, we should like to say a few words respecting the origin, progress, and present position and prospects of the Bendigo Water Works Company. It is true that although this company has been for a considerable time before the public, with its shares at a respectable premium, and enjoying the confidence of capitalists no less than the goodwill of the community, nevertheless little or nothing is known of the character of the undertaking, by which shareholders hope to realise a dividend, to which the public at large look for the solution of a problem hitherto regarded as difficult and perplexing in the extreme : — we mean the supply of water to the gold-fields generally.
With respect to the origin of the company it is pretty well known that Mr. E. N. Emmett, a gentleman residing at Sandhurst, was the projector of the scheme, which was eventually brought before the public at a meeting in Melbourne ; next, committed to the care of a provisional committee; and finally handed over to an extensive proprietary and a board of directors, under whose auspices the affairs of the company have thus far prospered. During the period of gestation, if we may use the term, the company had to encounter many obstacles ; and referring to the report presented by the provisional committee to the shareholders at the first general meeting, we find it stated that owing to the difficulty experienced in coming to an understanding with the Government as to the tenure of the land required for the purposes of reservoirs etc. the company stood in constant danger of dissolution.
Happily, however, for the colony in general, and for the Bendigo portion of it in particular, this was not the result; and while we cannot altogether divest our minds of an impression that the authorities have not been thoroughly free from blame, on the score of unnecessary obstruction and delay in the matter of this company, we must yet congratulate the Bendigonians on the ground that their wants have not, in the long run, been overlooked. The thinking portion of the public must watch the development and progress of the Bendigo water scheme with considerable curiosity and interest. For although it is not necessary to harp too long upon the commonly received truism with respect to the necessity of water for the goldfields in the first place, and of the absolute dependence of Victoria upon the prosperity and productiveness of her mines in the second ; yet the fact is of sufficient importance to he pointed to in connection with this subject, and sufficiently palpable and fixed as to require little or no support of an argumentative or explanatory nature.
In the Bendigo scheme, as we purpose to explain it, we recognise not only the proof that it is perfectly possible to supply at a comparatively trifling, cost — by no means commensurate at least with the advantages to be derived from the outlay — the whole of that particular mining district, but also the applicability of the principle to almost every other gold-field in the colony. It is upon this ground principally that our attention has been so especially attracted to the undertaking under discussion ; and we are firmly convinced that so soon as Parliament shall have put the company, by the passing of their act of incorporation, into a position to realise the object for which they are associated together, there will not be a mining district in the colony but where the desirability will at once be seen of taking a leaf out of the Bendigo book.
It is very well known that Mr. Ligar, the Surveyor-General, has it in contemplation to submit, to the consideration of the Colony, a comprehensive scheme for the supply of water to the goldfields collectively. At the present time, however, we are not in a position to speak as to the value of the suggestion, seeing that it has not as yet been thoroughly explained; but, under any circumstances, we cannot see that it should clash or interfere in any way with the Bendigo project. Be the idea what it may, it is certainly deserving of attentive contemplation as an emanation from so good a source ; but as the carrying out of any extensive system of water supply will necessarily be attended with much 'delay and expense, we question much the desirability of waiting for water on Bendigo, or at any other gold-field, until Mr. Ligar's project shall have received the sanction of the Colony.
For ourselves, we are far from thinking that the responsibility of supplying of water to the gold-fields rests with government, so long as it can he shown to be within the power of private enterprise— and on this point we have no doubt whatever;— but we feel called upon most decidedly to declare that it is the bounden duty of government to offer the utmost facilities to companies, or even to single individuals, in cases where it can be shown that a proposition for supplying water to any gold-field is practicable. The great interest should never give way to the lesser, and it is all nonsense to talk about the necessity of protecting the "twopenny-halfpenny rights" of every individual colonist separately, in a case where so great a principle and so vast a result are involved. If this doctrine had held good in all things and at all times, where would have been the railroads of Europe? and should it be acted upon now in dealing with the question of water for the gold-fields of Victoria, it would, we imagine, require no prophet to declare what must be the ultimate effect upon the general prosperity of the' Colony.
But in making these remarks we wish to be understood as not desiring to pass censure upon the Government on the score of their negotiations with the particular Water Company in question, nor indeed of any other. We are not sufficiently behind the. scenes to be informed as to the nature of these negotiations; but the end proposed to be attained is of such indisputable importance, that we confess ourselves very impatient of delay in its accomplishment. We understand that the company have applied for their Act of Incorporation, and it is to be hoped that the Assembly will see the desirability of stretching to the utmost every point in favour of the project. With respect to the present constitution of the company we may observe that every care seems to have been taken to protect the capital of shareholders from any premature or rash expenditure by the directory, until the passing of the act shall have rendered such outlay desirable and necessary. Unlike a contemporary enterprise ' which we might
mention, the deed of settlement, or rather, in this case, the " Subscription Contract," has been carefully framed with a view to limiting the power of the directors ; and as these restrictions have been put upon themselves by the Board, who, with one exception, were members of the Provincial Committee, it speaks well for them as a body of prudent business-like men, who are not likely to, commit any gross extravagance or absurdity in the discharge of their important duties. . .Some very erroneous impressions have been afloat with respect to the remuneration which the projector of the Bendigo Water scheme is to receive from the company ; and the present is perhaps a fitting opportunity for such an explanation on this point, as will set the question at rest, so far at least as the sources from which we have obtained our information are to be relied upon. Mr. Mr. Emmett, as the originator, is decidedly entitled to a suitable reward ; and although a somewhat kaleidoscopic train of circumstances have, during the progress of the company, materially affected, from time to time, the aspect of his " case," the shareholders have so far pledged themselves to him, that they cannot, with any appearance of consistency, refuse to make a substantial acknowledgment of his services. It seems that a " sort-of-a-kind" of an arbitration has been gone into, and that the result has been, a recommendation for the appropriation of rather a large portion of the shares of the company in favour of the projector. Under the restrictions of the Subscription Contract, however, it turns out that the directors have no legal power to make or sanction such an application of the capital stock without the express concurrence of all the shareholders; and the question can therefore only be settled by a direct appeal to the proprietors. It is only just, therefore, that the earliest opportunity should be afforded; and, in our opinion, the sooner the matter is settled, the better for all concerned. As far as we can learn, the company are disposed to meet Mr. Emmett's demand with all reasonable pliability, and that gentleman-appreciating, as he must, the readiness with which his claim has been acknowledged — will, doubtless, offer every facility for an amicable and satisfactory adjustment. But we have unwittingly indulged in a somewhat lengthy peroration, and that it is high time we should refer to the scheme itself, as originally proposed. Let our readers then glance at the accompanying map, and endeavour to follow our explanation. The watershed of the valley of the Bendigo is contained within the ranges which form the outside limits of our engraving, including an area of about 8,655 acres, or rather more than 13J square miles. The direction of these hills is somewhat peculiar, forming as it were a kind of bottle-shaped enclosure, with a steady descent from the upper end towards a narrow neck at the lower; and it stands to reason, that the surplus rainfall upon this area must pass over the spot marked on the plan ' Reservoir No. 1.' We have all heard of the disastrous floods at Bendigo, and it is probable, that the contemplation of one of these calamities first suggested the. notion of impounding, storing, and rendering useful rather than destructive, the torrents which, during the rainy season, rush down the Bendigo Creek. At whose suggestion we cannot say, but it is well known to all Bendigo people that a site of 21 acres in extent at Golden Square (the spot previously indicated), has been for some time set aside by the government for the purpose of a water-reservoir. The land thus reserved is known to be auriferous, having been already worked, and it has been estimated that the cost of excavating, damming, and forming a water-basin at this spot, would be repaid by the gold to be obtained from the soil ; while the opinion -of Mr. Jackson the Engineer to the Water and- Sewerage Commission, who reported' upon the scheme in the first instance, went, to:' show that the quantity of water to be impounded would be sufficient to afford the gold-fields and municipality below that level, an ample supply. Mr. Jackson's estimate of the capacity of this reservoir, according to the report of the proceedings of the first meeting, a copy of which' is now before us, was stated to be 180,000,000 gallons. This then is the gist of the original scheme, which, though of itself scarcely to be regarded as perfect, has certainly the merit of having caused the development of the real resources of the watershed. Without committing themselves further to the project thus put forward, than the skilled opinion of a competent civil engineer — 'based although it certainly was, upon rough calculation, — warranted, the promoters of the undertaking could have no hesitation in. commending it to the public as a genuine and feasible scheme ; and we have no hesitation in saying, that as far as it went it had every claim to that consideration; But the result of a most elaborate and careful survey, . recently made by the company's engineer (Mr. Brady), discloses the fact that the Golden-square Reservoir, (No. I on Map) falls very far short of the storage capacity required for impounding- the stormwaters, which the most moderate calculation of the annual rainfall of the watershed has shown to be available. The Golden Square reserve is undoubtedly the ncihiral basin ; and without its assistance, any water scheme, of the character under description, would be impracticable, or at least inefficient; but, at the same time, it has the disadvantage of a low level in the first place, and of too limited a storage capacity in the second. Added to this, it has been ascertained that it contains mineral springs, and that the water thus impregnated would be unfit for domestic consumption; although well adapted for mining purposes. We have already stated that the entire area of the watershed is 8,655 acres. The result of local meteorological observations made during- twelve months, ending 30th April 1858— a season of unusual dryness — shows the total rainfall to be about 200 inches during the year. These results were registered, however, at a spot situated at a height of only 750 feet above the level of the sea ; whereas the upper end of the watershed, which is the highest land in the Bendigo district, known as the Big- Hill, and including the northern slopes of Mount Herbert, attains an elevation of about 1500 feet above the sea level. It is a well-known fact that high land has the power of attracting the clouds, and it is therefore reasonable to assume that the amount of rainfall upon which Mr. Brady's calculations are based, is considerably below what may be anticipated. It is of course difficult to calculate, with any degree of certainty, the exact proportion of this rainfall, which may be considered as available;' in consequence of the character of the ground. For instance, at the upper end of the watershed, where the slopes are steep, unbroken, well grassed, and of a schistose formation, 50 per cent., or say 10 inches, may fairly be counted upon ; while for that portion which will mainly supply the Golden-square basin (about 5770 acres in area), it would not be safe to calculate on more than about 3-10ths of the entire rainfall, or about six inches, as available for storage; partly on account of the flatness of the ground, and partly because of a great portion of it being riddled and honeycombed by diggers' shafts, etc. Mr. Brady estimates the entire available rainfall at 1,295,000,000 gallons, and the storage capacity of the Golden-square basin at 86,259,000 gallons. Fortunately, the character of the ground included within the limits of the watershed is admirably adapted for the formation of impounding- reservoirs at high, and also at lower levels, by the simple construction of dams, and without the necessity of excavation. By reference to the plan, it will be seen that the engineer has marked out several additional reservoirs, numbered respectively 8,7, 6, 5, 4, 3, and 2; No. 8 being at the highest, and No. 2 at the lowest level above the main basin at Golden-square. These reservoirs are situated so as not to interfere in the least with any workable ground, and are connected and supplied by a contour aqueduct, or, more correctly speaking-, an open watercourse, or " race;" the total length of which is about fifteen miles. This race will be cut of sufficient size to carry the storm waters intercepted from that portion of the watershed which is above its level, and of a form to allow of a small stream passing, without exposing too great a surface to soakage or evaporation. It is also in contemplation, we understand, to line the bottom of the race with vitrified stone-ware tiles, which are manufactured in the neighbourhood. But this is a matter of detail, scarcely coining within the limits of our present sketch. The average gradient of the race is about five feet in the mile. The functions of the various reservoirs may be thus described. Nos. 8 and 7 are intended to provide for the town supply, the former being- an auxiliary to the latter, -which will be used as a distributing- basin. The height of No. 8 reservoir above the level of the town of Sandhurst at Pall Mall, is 440 feet; and of No. 7, 294 feet. The area of the watershed, from which these reservoirs will be supplied, is 756 acres, and as the slopes at this part are peculiarly steep, grassy, and unbroken, it is anticipated, that at least 10 inches of the rainfall will be available, or in round numbers 171,517,500 gallons. The gross storage capacity of these reservoirs will be 106,278,000 gallons, the overflow to be passed on by the contour race to the next lowest reservoir, and so on. It is not anticipated that there will be any necessity for filtering- basins, although proper provision will be made in case of need. The town is to be supplied by means of a seven inch cast-iron pipe laid down the main road, as shown in the plan. The total length of this pipe to Pall Mall is about 6 miles.
RESEARCHED AND COMPILED BY ANDREW PARKER 2023
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