Golden Pipeline Project

Objectives

To conserve and interpret the heritage of the Goldfields and Agricultural Areas Water Supply Scheme.
To enhance social and economic opportunity in the Wheatbelt and Goldfields.

Key Strategies

To develop a Business Plan to guide the development of a sustainable community based enterprise
To conserve the Pump Stations, steam engines, pumps and boilers and sites associated with the Golden Pipeline
To integrate interpretation with the heritage value of the various sites
To develop a series of multi-use trails that link the towns along the Golden Pipeline with the Golden Pipeline sites
To develop, present and disseminate educational resource material
To gain World Heritage listing for the Golden Pipeline Project.
To engage community and stakeholders in the Golden Pipeline Project
To develop a well marketed cultural heritage based tourism asset
To develop a program for the use of innovation and technology within the Golden Pipeline Project.

Performance Measures

Complete works program on time and budget.

The Golden Pipeline Council

The Golden Pipeline Council serves as the peek steering committee for The Golden Pipeline Project. Within National Trust of Australia (WA) policies, it guides the development of strategies and works programs for the execution of the project. During the year under review the Council met three times and there was only one change in membership. (Mr Keith Cadee, Water Corporation, became the eleventh member.)

Interpretation Advisory Group

The Interpretation Advisory Group was established in 2001 to oversee the development of all interpretation works for the Golden Pipeline project. It makes recommendations to and advises the Interpretation Manager on polices and priorities for interpretation programs; management and administration of interpretation; community involvement and encouragement and support for the project. It brings together a number of people with skills and knowledge appropriate to the project to supplement the skills and knowledge of the project staff. The group met three times in 2000/01.

Conservation Advisory Group

The Conservation Advisory Group, also established in 2001, has similar terms of reference to those above but with regard to conservation, rather than interpretation. It met twice and was chaired by Phil Bennett.

Business Planning Steering Group

The Business Planning Steering Group was appointed in 2000/01 to advise the Golden Pipeline Council on the development of a Business Plan for the project. The group provided guidance in the selection of the consultants to develop the Business Plan. The group met three times with the business consultants reporting back to them with a summary of their findings.

Features of the 2000/2001 Program

Advisory groups to guide interpretation and conservation policies.
Broad community consultation and stakeholder involvement
Confirmation of State Government funding of $6.9m
Conservation works at Nos 1, 5, 6 and 8 Pump Stations
Planning for redevelopment of No 1 Pump Station and implementing Stage 1 of works
Education resources for schools
Oral histories
Business Planning consultants appointed and undertaking work on the Plan’s development
Establishment of area-based advisory groups to assist planning
Archaeological surveys to guide interpretation and conservation
Planning for walk trails, construction and opening of first two
Development of sign system for trails
Extensive communications network including e-newsletter “In the Pipeline”.
Detailed planning for Golden Pipeline Drive Trail
Significant effort spent in consulting with and keeping stakeholders informed

New Initiatives

Following national advertising and a thorough interview process, the contract for a plan for the redevelopment of No 1 Pump Station (formerly the CY O’Connor Museum) was awarded to a consortium formed by Adelaide based Mulloway Studio, Exhibition Services, Spellbound Interpretation and Scitech (Perth). Preliminary concepts were presented in May and Stage 1 will be implemented by 4 November 2001.

The Conservation Advisory Group met for the first time and gave valuable advice both at a very specific level and a more general level regarding conservation works. The group approved specifications for site works at the No 1 Pump Station and worked towards a “whole of site” plan to give direction on the conservation of the various elements of the pipeline project viewed as an entity.

A number of specialists were invited to form a group to advise on issues relating to interpretation of the Golden Pipeline heritage. This Interpretation Advisory Group has already proved invaluable in, amongst other activities: providing useful feedback in finalising additions to the Interpretation Plan; assessing the preliminary plans for No 1 Pump Station.

Wisdom Resources was appointed to develop a package focussing on the Mundaring Weir precinct and the walk trails there. They presented a draft of printed resources and a blueprint for an interactive website. Two professional development days were held for teachers to help gauge the potential appeal of the walk trails and for input into the design of the resources.

The Trust successfully applied for a Regional Assistance Program Grant for $84 000 to cover the development of a market-oriented Business Plan for the Golden Pipeline Project. A local WA development and marketing firm Pracsys, was selected and has made a preliminary report after extensive community consultation. Local Government Authorities associated with the pipeline applied for grants under the umbrella of the Trust and were awarded almost $500 000 in total for 10 projects.

Seven groups to bring together various interests in the community, for example tourism and business, were established to assist in planning of the project. These Planning Advisory Groups are: Darling Range (Mundaring and Kalamunda); Northam (Northam Town and Shire); Cunderdin; Tammin and Kellerberrin; Merredin; Yilgarn and Westonia; Goldfields (Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie-Boulder). All the groups met at least twice with a representative from Pracsys attending. Agenda items included the Golden Pipeline Drive Trail and urban planning. The groups were established in conjunction with Local Government Authorities to provide community liaison.

The foundations have been laid for future work to be undertaken to ensure interpretation of the Aboriginal heritage of the Golden Pipeline sites.

Conservation works to No 1 Pump Station were commenced primarily focused on: drying out the building; improving the site drainage; placing a plastic membrane on the outside of the subfloor walling; and preventing drainage from entering the subfloor spaces.

Other works were:

Conservation of the boiler brickwork.
Conservation of the reinforced concrete canopy over the entrance.
Removal of the existing 1960s museum fitout.
Retarding the corrosion of the metal subfloor structure.
Repair of the subfloor structure with new elements.
Removal of the rooms built into the passage and on the northern end of the building
Removal of the carpet tiles and exposure of original timber flooring.
Construction of new windows and doors to the openings in the boiler room to ensure the climate is more controlled in the pump station.

Conservation works at No 5 Pump Station (Yerbillon):

Conservation and repair of roof sheeting and roof ventilators.
Remedial measures to conserve railhead.
Installation of security mesh to openings to prevent vandalism.
Engineering report completed to determine structural stability of boiler supports.

Conservation works at No 6 Pump Station (Ghooli):

Conservation and repair of roof sheeting and roof ventilators.
Remedial measures taken to conserve railhead.
Engineering report completed to determine structural stability of chimney guys and boiler supports.
Conservation of concrete entry canopy.
Installation of electronic security system proposed.

Conservation works at No 8 Pump Station (Dedari):

Conservation and repair of roof sheeting and roof ventilators.
Conservation of the timber framed and corrugated iron clad Engineer’s Office building and the Stores building.

Special attention was paid to obtaining archaeological advice and reports with the intention of integrating these into planning to help provide informed interpretation and to guide conservation works. An archaeologist was on call during conservation works at No 1 Pump Station.

A sign system for the Golden Pipeline walk and drive trails was designed by Stusha Studios based on materials and patterns in the Mundaring Weir precinct landscape. Made from steel pipe, it has features such as fins at the base that echo the flanges on the pipe sections and commemorates 100-year-old technologies.

In the Pipeline, an electronic newsletter to keep those involved and interested in the project informed, was launched. This is an inexpensive way of communicating with the 500 people on our mailing list. Three issues were sent out in 2000/01. Recipients are invited to pass on the newsletter and give feedback.

Highlights

Anne Brake, the curator of the Fremantle Prison, was seconded in October 2000 to the Trust for just over a year as Manager of Interpretation for the Golden Pipeline. Well respected in the heritage industry, Anne is the Vice President of Museums Australia (WA).

A comprehensive descriptive table of the various elements along the pipeline route was added to the Interpretation Plan. This is a quick reference for relevant themes and recommendations.

Two signposted walk trails were opened in May at Mundaring Weir. They take visitors around the weir gardens, through the surrounding forest and across the dam wall and the interpretation gives some of the engineering and social history of the place. The walks are the result of a high degree of cooperation between the Trust and stakeholders including the Shire of Mundaring, Water Corporation and the Department of Conservation and Land Management.

Plans for the construction of a signposted multi use trail from the Mundaring Weir to Northam were given a boost with a $50 000 grant from Trailswest (Lotteries). Construction has begun on the section from Mundaring Weir to Mount Helena.

Conservation Plans on seven minor sites were completed by the Research Institute for Cultural Heritage at Curtin University including summit tanks at West Northam and Sawyers Valley. These well researched plans provide the basis for sound decision-making.

Railhead foundations were revealed during conservation works at No 1 Pump Station.

Following the State elections the new Labor Government confirmed its commitment to the $6.9 m in funding for the Golden Pipeline Project promised by the previous government from the proceeds of the sale of Alinta Gas.

The Wheatbelt Development Commission continued its strong commitment to the project, calling regular meetings of the Golden Pipeline Working Group and coordinating the cooperative bid for Regional Assistance Program funding.

Planning for the Drive Trail from Mundaring Weir to Kalgoorlie-Boulder reached a more detailed stage with the Trust’s trail consultants, Maher Brampton Associates, refining the number of recommended stops en route. They also investigated publications and information technologies, for example localised radio broadcast, more closely. The Trust’s Business Plan consultants ranked the appeal of natural and cultural heritage sites being considered to help ensure sound business decisions are made regarding their development.

The Water Corporation provided strong, willing and ongoing support – both financial and non-financial. The project received $300 000 in funding (the second major tranche of the $1.3 m promised by the Corporation to the project). The Water Corporation was represented on several advisory groups and personnel were always forthcoming in offering advice, assistance and information.

Like the Water Corporation, the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) cooperated in the development of the walk trails around the Mundaring Weir Precinct. Personnel at the Hills Forest Discovery Centre and the Mundaring District Office worked with us to develop longer term plans for this area. CALM officers in the Wheatbelt and Kalgoorlie-Boulder areas have also assisted with information for the Drive Trail.

Local Government Authorities all along the pipeline continued their enthusiastic support of the project, in both concrete and non-concrete terms for example in providing venues for meetings and giving information and advice.