The Australian Government's Innovation Report

Figure 1 - Aquifer Storage and Recovery Well (Parafield,
South Australia).
Photo credits: ISL
Figure 2 - Modelling output of injection and
recovery well location and concurrent injectant
movement (FEFLOW model) Reference: CSIRO
Land and Water Technical Report 27/04.
Figure 3 - Schematic diagram showing the
Aquifer Storage Transfer and Recovery process
whereby the injection and recovery wells are
separated to allow for treatment and residence
time of the injectant in the aquifer.
ASTR aims to recover water at a drinking water standard from stormwater and involves filtering the water
through an engineered wetland, then pumping it into an aquifer. The scheme involves using separate injection
and recovery wells to extend the residence time and enhance passive treatment within the aquifer, resulting in
improved water quality. The ASTR concept is a world first and ISL funding has allowed Australian researchers
to demonstrate the significance of this technology to their European partners.
Through the ASTR and Reclaim Water projects, advances are being made in the fields of water recycling, water
treatment technology, groundwater assessment, water quality analytical techniques, hydraulic and biochemical
modelling, hydrogeology and risk-based management. Such advances can benefit rural water suppliers and
recycling schemes both in Australia and internationally.
Transforming existing industries
Boosting Australia’s prawn and salmon productivity: Collaboration between the Commonwealth Scientific
and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), researchers and industry is helping to boost Australia’s farmed
prawn and Atlantic salmon production from Queensland’s sunny Gold Coast to the cooler waters off Tasmania.
Research by the Food Futures Flagship into black tiger prawn domestication and Atlantic salmon selective breeding
research is allowing these industries to improve the growth, health and harvest-quality of their livestock by up to
10% a generation.
In May 2006, Gold Coast Marine Aquaculture harvested the world’s first commercial crop of black tiger
prawns grown from parent stocks that were bred and matured in captivity. The 50-tonne harvest is a significant
step towards achieving a long-standing goal – to reduce industry reliance on unpredictable wild brood stock.
This development has given the industry confidence to invest in further research
to genetically improve Australian prawn stocks. The Atlantic salmon selective breeding
programme is also a collaborative project. In a five-year research partnership
between the Flagship and Salmon Enterprises of Tasmania, the programme aims to
improve production efficiency and product quality to help meet changing market
and production needs.
Progeny from the breeding programme will be provided to Tasmanian salmon
growers as smolts for commercial production and to hatcheries as eggs and young
fish for growing into brood stock. Tasmania’s Atlantic salmon industry can expect
$20 million in benefits when the first progeny are harvested in 2009-10.
Radar units cut down time and boost safety: A remotely controlled device that
can see through dust and water vapour in huge underground voids will make mines
safer, while reducing environmental impact and running costs.
Scientists are working with industry
partners to improve the growth, health
and harvest quality of Australian-farmed
black tiger prawns and Atlantic salmon.
Photo credits: David McClenaghan
Chapter 3 - National research priorities 95