Page 30 - City of Cessnock Water Supply and Sewerage Service Utility

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The reinforced concrete transition section was constructed to eleiminate ·
fllod flows and to ensure that downstream flow velocities will not scour the
open earth channel being constructed in conjunction with this transition. With
vertical walls 2.7 metres high, the transition section is approximately 125 metres
long, varying in width from 20 metres at its upstream extremity to 38 mtres at its
junction with the open earth channel. The concrete work and the enlargement of
Black Creek had been a project jointly funded by the H.D.W.B. and the N.S.W.
Government as part of an unemployment relief programme.

A flow equalisation tank, an overflow pipeline connecting to three
matruation ponds and a sludge lagoon were ~onstructed and completed by October,
1878 at Cessnock Treatment Works.

As was its continuing policy the H.D.W~B. 6pdated water flow to meet
specific demands. To ensure that Kurri Hospital had maximum pressure and supply
a new booster station was built at Weston in 1978. The pumping station was
built on South Maitland Railway land adjacent to Weston signal box. The use of
the land was covered by a lease. The unit is automatic and is bvught into
service when the present No. 5 unit at Neath pumping station is called into
action by the demand further on. The pump was secondhandand was transferred
from Crebert pumping station, on the 28th March, 1978. The pump was a "Kelly
and Lewis" a type with a fourteen (14") inch suction and fourteen (14") drive
movement. It operated at 970 revolutions per minute and produced 5080 gallons
per minute. A "Crompton Parkinson" 100 H.P. squirrel-caged electric motor (415
volts, 3 phase, 50 cycles) provided the power. The pump when purchased on the
9th December, 1930 for the Crebert station had cost £513.0.0. ($1026.00).

On the 10th September, 1979 a small boosting station was constructed to
provide pressure for the Kearsley area. It was situated on the footpath of
Government Road, Kearsley adjacent to the old Aberdare Colliery ~anager's house.
This was powered by a second hand pump transferred from .the Bolwarra pumping
station. It was a "Davey" type (240 volts) and operated at 2800 revolutions per
minute.

Forming a part of the amplicating works necessary to meet the increased
water supply demand in the Kurri Kurri - Cessnock area a contract was awarded
on the 4th June, 1979 to V.C. Saunders Pty. Ltd. for the construction of a ten
megalitre (2,200,000 gallons) steel reservoir at Abermain. This was situated
on Lot 1, Albury Street, Abermain opposite Maitland Street, Abermain and is part
of the portion of Cessnock State Forrest, Parish of Heddon. It was purchased
for $7500.00 on the 19th October, 1977.