Tender Details
The Warragamba Dam Blue-Green Algae Action Plan (WDBGAAP) was developed for greater Sydney’s water supplies following a significant algae event that occurred in the Warragamba Dam storage (Lake Burragorang) in 2007.
The Sydney Catchment Authority (SCA) and Sydney Water developed a range of actions to manage blue-green algae from the catchments through to customers’ taps.
The WDBGAAP includes a research component to obtain an improved understanding of the causes of, and options for the management of, blue-green algae in Warragamba Dam and other SCA storages. Many of these research actions have been completed, including work to gain a better understanding of the circumstances that led to the 2007 algal bloom conditions.
The SCA is now calling for tenders from universities and other research providers for projects under a number of research areas (as outlined below). The tender submitted should be for a research project(s) relevant to one or more of the research topics outlined below. The SCA anticipates funding between 3 and 5 projects in total. Tenders may be submitted covering one or more projects, but they should be submitted as individual stand alone projects.
The program provides the SCA with an opportunity to access and utilise leading edge technology, and scientific expertise, in a cost-effective manner. In return the SCA provides an opportunity for both established and new researchers to work with a catchment and bulk water management organisation on blue-green algae related research topics of critical and immediate relevance to the SCA.
The SCA is expecting the research to be undertaken to a scientifically robust and high standard. To promote this, emphasis will be given to the publication of the results of the research projects in refereed journals.
Research Topics:
Factors causing algal species to become toxic.
1. Determination of the mechanisms for change in the dominant strains and species within a bloom from non- toxigenic to toxigenic cyanobacterial strains.
2. Determination of the factors responsible for the turning on/off of cyanobacterial genes to produce toxins.
3. Determination of the mechanisms by which toxin transport from the cyanobacterial cells to the water occurs.
The fate of toxins and taste and odour in reservoirs.
4. Determination of the mechanisms responsible for the degradation of toxins, and taste & odour compounds, with specific reference to the Warragamba Dam context.
5. Determination of the loss rates for toxins, and taste & odour compounds, with specific reference to the Warragamba Dam context.
Influence of environmental conditions on blue-green algal bloom development.
6. Investigate sediment efflux and transformation rates in Warragamba Dam and determine the relative contributions of nutrients from within lake sources and from external sources.
7. Investigate and develop improved methods for monitoring 1) water chemistry (in relation, for example, to detection limits and spatial variability) and 2) algae (in relation to sampling variability)
Financial support from the SCA for any single project will generally be for a maximum of $100,000.00 per year (exclusive of GST), although consideration will be given to projects costing in excess of this amount if it can be demonstrated that the project outcomes justify such a level of expenditure. Preference will be given for projects lasting for a maximum of 24 months.
It is anticipated that the SCA will support research activity with universities or other research organisations across most of the project areas listed. However, the SCA will use its discretion in allocating funding. It should be noted that all projects must comply with relevant NSW State Government legislation and must be approved on a case-by-case basis by the Authority’s Chief Executive.
Applicants should restrict their applications to these key research topics. The SCA is an operational organisation with a clear mandate. It is not a research funding council, it undertakes research of a highly applied nature and in relation to its core business objectives. Extensive interaction between research funding recipients and SCA staff will be an essential part of all projects.
Tender.pdf (98 KB)