Willunga Basin Water Company applies to build dam at Seaford Heights

A $5 million dam to provide water to vineyards – and to fruit, nut and flower growers – is planned for Seaford Heights.

A $5 million dam to provide water to vineyards – and to fruit, nut and flower growers – is planned for Seaford Heights.

The Willunga Basin Water Company has applied to the State Commission Assessment Panel to build the 600 megalitres dam on the site of the former Noarlunga Ostrich Farm, between Victor Harbor Rd and Blakewell Drive.

An independent report to the panel said the dam would reduce the amount of treated wastewater released into Gulf of St Vincent from the Christies Beach water treatment plant each year.

Willunga Basin Water already provides treated water from a smaller dam in the area to McLaren Vale.

The addition of the dam would help the company meet irrigators’ demands for treated water during the summer.

The report, from urban planning firm Ekistics, said the impact on residents in the neighbouring Vista housing development would be “low”.

It found there were no major environmental threats involved.

Remediation work – including the planting of 300 trees – would follow construction of the dam.

A number of mature olive trees already located at the site will be retained.

The panel’s confidential recommendations have been sent to Planning Minister Stephan Knoll.

The Minister’s office was contacted for comment.