The Adelaide Showground is the first South Australian development of its type to include provisions for the capture and re-use of large amounts of storm water from its site.

 

The Showground is in the process of installing a massive 3.5 million-litre underground water tank as part of the new $42 million exhibition building development.

 

Storm water from the roofs of the new exhibition pavilion and the existing Jubilee building, totaling 17,500 square-metres of space, will be channeled into the innovative cubed cell tank system, for re-use.

 

“Water storage is a key feature of this project and will enable us to have security of water supply, while also reducing our reliance on the mains,” said Royal Agricultural & Horticultural Society (RA & HS) Chief Executive John Rothwell.

 

“Importantly, it will also significantly reduce the amount of storm water runoff which is environmentally responsible and logical, particularly given that historically creeks in this area have been prone to flooding,” Mr Rothwell said.

 

Water captured in the tank, expected to be in the vicinity of 6 to 7 million litres yearly, will be used for irrigation, toilet flushing and water features associated with the new building.

 

In keeping with the Showground’s commitment to water sustainability, it was today announced the new exhibition facility will be named the GOYDER PAVILION, after George W Goyder, who established the Goyder Line of Rainfall to delineate drought affected country.

 

“We are very proud to be associated with the “Goyder” name,” said Society President Charlie Downer. “Not only is it a name with strong links to South Australia, but it’s also intrinsically linked with defining the limit of reliable rainfall and the need to be water conscious.”

 

The water storage facility is one of a host of project elements aimed at minimising the development’s impact on the environment, which design and construction contractor Built Environs has been instrumental in bringing to realisation.