Background
ERA Water has submitted a proposal to Council to install a water storage and distribution system at Penfold Park. This proposal is for a storage tank measuring approximately 2.9 metres high and 7.7 metres in diameter.
The proposed system would make the most of available water resources by combining recycled water from the ERA Water network with groundwater accessed under an approved Department for Environment and Water entitlement. Water would be stored during the day and released overnight, helping to improve irrigation reliability and maintain stronger network pressure for Penfold Park and downstream irrigation sites.
How would this proposal benefit the City of Burnside?
This project is an important step towards reducing reliance on potable (drinking) water and achieving Council’s water-saving targets. It supports the City of Burnside’s environmental sustainability goals and aligns with our open space water management objectives.
Having access to this harvested stormwater helps ensure greener neighbourhoods which provide improved amenity as well as liveability, health and wellbeing benefits.
How would this benefit the City of Burnside?
This project is an important step towards reducing reliance on potable (drinking) water and achieving Council’s water-saving targets. It supports the City of Burnside’s environmental sustainability goals and aligns with our open space water management objectives.
Having access to this harvested stormwater helps ensure greener neighbourhoods which provide improved amenity as well as liveability, health and wellbeing benefits.
How would this be funded?
The project will be fully funded by ERA Water through recently awarded Alternative Water Supplies Efficiency Measures Program grant funding, with no capital contribution required from Council.
How would this work?
ERA Water would be responsible for delivering and commissioning the infrastructure, while the City of Burnside would retain ownership of the land.
If the community support the proposal to install the system, a lease or licence agreement would be established to clearly define the terms of occupation, including responsibilities for maintenance, insurance, site access and the eventual decommissioning of the infrastructure at the end of its operational life.
The proposal would also be subject to any relevant planning and development approvals required under the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 before it could proceed.
What about the lease or licence?
If this proposal is supported by the community, the next steps include undertaking a technical assessment and developing a draft tenure arrangement. This information will be presented to a future Council meeting and, if approved, a further community consultation will be undertaken to seek support for a lease or licence for ERA Water to use community land for this purpose.
As required by the Local Government Act 1999, any tenure arrangement on Community Land exceeding 5 years requires community consultation.
What will happen next?
More technical assessments and a development application process will be undertaken. The results of these processes and this community engagement will be presented to Council for a decision on progressing the proposed stormwater harvesting tank project.
If the project progresses, a further community consultation will be undertaken to seek community feedback on a proposed lease or licence for the use of this Community Land.
What would the proposed tank look like?
Proposed Water Storage and Distribution System without landscaping and vegetation screening
Proposed Water Storage and Distribution System with proposed vegetation screening
Further information about this proposal can be seen under the 'Documents' heading to the right of this page.
Have your say
Council is seeking feedback on the ERA Water proposal to install the storage tank and distribution system in Penfold Park adjacent the public toilets. The proposal includes:
- installing a 135 kL storage tank that is 2.9m high and 7.7m in diameter.
- installing landscaping and vegetation screening.
This proposal represents a change in use of this Community Land.
To have your say please complete the the below form prior to 5 pm Friday 11 September 2026.
