Construction works are progressing at Murray Bridge–Onkaparinga Pump Station 3 (MBO3), where Verbrec is delivering critical high-voltage upgrades to support the reliability and safety of South Australia’s water infrastructure.
The project is well underway, with approximately 50% of the site installation works now complete. Hardware factory acceptance testing has also been completed, and the site is now being prepared for the arrival of the new high-voltage switchroom.
The upgrades are designed to improve the reliability of ageing electrical infrastructure and enhance safety by reducing arc-flash risk.
| ~50% Site installation works now complete |
~5,000 hrs Man hours delivered, MTI and LTI free |
Factory acceptance complete Hardware factory acceptance of HV switchgear complete |
Improving electrical systems to reduce risk and strengthen reliability
MBO3 is one of three high-voltage pumping stations along the Murray Bridge–Onkaparinga Pipeline (MBOPL), which is one of six major systems that transfer bulk raw water across regional and metropolitan South Australia.
Together, the three stations along the MBOPL move water from the River Murray through to Summit Storage. From there, the water gravitates to Mount Bold Reservoir via the Onkaparinga River before flowing to Clarendon Weir and the Happy Valley Water Treatment Plant, which serve around 45% of metropolitan Adelaide customers.
Commissioned in the 1970s, the system includes large-diameter, above-ground mild steel concrete-lined pipelines, high-voltage water pumping stations and water storage infrastructure.
The pumping stations are unmanned and operate automatically, with remote monitoring provided through a radio telemetry system.
By improving the operation and maintenance of the electrical system, the final outcome of this project will strengthen the reliability of water transfer through the MBOPL system and reduce the risk of outages caused by electrical equipment failure.
Delivering works across the project lifecycle
Verbrec’s scope extends from early constructability support and procurement through to construction, integration, testing and commissioning.
The full scope of the project includes:
- Pre-construction constructability reviews of the design.
- Procurement of the main switchboard, motor control centre, master PLC control panel, pump control panels and RTU panel.
- Factory acceptance testing of high-voltage switchgear.
- Control system software development and factory acceptance testing.
- Participation in factory acceptance testing for the new HV switch room, switchboard and local/remote IO panels.
- Full rewiring of the pump station, including new cable support/tray and HV and LV cabling.
- A new HV earthing system around the switch room and transformer.
- Integration of new switch room fire and security systems with the existing pump station.
- Site commissioning and testing.
Maintaining a strong focus on safety while progressing complex works
With almost half of the project underway, approximately 5,000 man-hours have been delivered without any MTI or LTIs.
Verbrec Managing Director and CEO Mark Read recently visited the MBO3 site to meet the project team and see progress firsthand, recognising the team’s safe delivery to date and the project’s importance to reliable water infrastructure across South Australia.
Tony Petruzzelli, Verbrec General Manager – South Australia, attributed this success to the vigilance and hard work of the workers on the ground.
“I would like to recognise everyone involved in the project for maintaining a strong focus on safety while continuing to progress these complex works.
“This project maintains Verbrec’s strong construction focus with JHGO across water infrastructure projects and builds on our previous delivery experience in this critical sector.”
