Media release
Public Lecture — 'Climate Change and Water in Bendigo: the Future — Immediate and Distant'
09 August 2007
'Climate Change and Water in Bendigo: the Future - Immediate and Distant' will be the title of the inaugural Faculty of Science, Technology and Engineering Dean's Lecture to be held at the Bendigo campus of La Trobe University, this Thursday, 9 August 2007.
The lecture — to be presented by Dr John Russell, La Trobe University lecturer in Civil Engineering and Environmental Studies, and Mr Neil Burns, Executive Manager, Service Delivery for Coliban Water — will be held in the McKay Lecture Theatre, Edwards Rd, Flora Hill, starting at 5.45 pm.
Dr Russell has been at La Trobe University for eight years. Before that he worked for sixteen years in water supply and wastewater, as a senior engineer with Melbourne Water. Mr Burns is responsible for Headworks, Operations, Projects and Customer Services, and has been with Coliban Water for more than 30 years.
Autumn rains have been a great start to the reservoir filling season. But with little reservoir inflow and the ten-year crippling drought, water supply difficulties are far from over.
Mr Burns will outline the state of the storages (including Lake Eppalock) which supply Bendigo, the strategic reasons for the selection and adoption of the Super Pipeline, and explain when and how this pipeline will operate and safeguard Bendigo against the uncertainties of climate change.
Dr Russell will present research findings into the performance of the Eppalock catchments. These led to the realisation that not only Lake Eppalock was in severe trouble, but that all the lower Murray Darling Basin storages were being emptied at unsustainable rates. Dr Russell will also give details on how this information was communicated to the Federal Government. He will review Australia's rainfall performance over the past 150 years and the implications of such rainfall reductions.
For information on civil engineering programs offered at La Trobe University visit: www.latrobe.edu.au/ceps or phone the Course Administrator on (03) 5444 7805.
Media Inquiries: Sally Routledge 03 5444 7374 or mobile: 0408 357 972