Miles Doing What Matters: Major Townsville water pipeline complete

• The jointly funded Ross River Dam to Douglas Water Treatment Plant Pipeline Duplication project is complete
• $33 million in funding was provided to Townsville City Council by the Miles Labor Government
• The pipeline supplies about 85 per cent of Townsville’s water

A key piece of water infrastructure for Townsville is now complete.

The Ross River Dam to Douglas Water Treatment Plant Pipeline Duplication project was jointly funded by the Miles Labor Government and Townsville City Council.

The almost 10km pipeline helps shore up water security for Townsville and supported 150 jobs during construction.

It was cut-in to existing infrastructure at both the dam and Council’s water treatment plant.

The council-owned infrastructure unexpectedly ruptured in December 2020 resulting in a temporary disruption to water supply for the city.

The old water pipeline ran next to Riverway Drive and would have been impacted by the Riverway Drive Stage Two project which has now begun.

The Queensland Government supported the project with $33 million through the Department of Transport and Main Roads.

The Miles Labor Government will continue to support water projects in North Queensland. The government has allocated $540 million towards raising and improving Burdekin Falls Dam in addition to funding both stages of the Haughton Pipeline, after the Federal LNP broke their promise to Townsville.

The Miles Labor Government is a big supporter of water infrastructure investment, with over $6.6 billion invested in water infrastructure across the state, creating 3,900 jobs.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Development, Manufacturing and Minister for Water Glenn Butcher:

“Townsville City Council asked, and the Queensland Labor Government delivered.

“Only the Miles Labor Government supports and invests in council projects that stack up, so they can deliver the infrastructure needed so their communities can thrive.

“This builds on Labor’s investment in critical water projects for North Queensland; like our government’s $540 million allocation towards raising and improving Burdekin Falls Dam and funding both stages of the Haughton Pipeline, after the Federal LNP broke their promise to Townsville.

“We’re strengthening water security - unlike the LNP, who when last in government, said councils were sitting on a goldmine and used that as an excuse to cut funding.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Thuringowa Aaron Harper:

““The original pipeline ran adjacent to Riverway Drive and crossed Ross River just prior to the treatment plant, the Miles Labor Government’s funding meant the new pipeline would not inhibit the duplication works of Riverway Drive in the years to come.

“I’m proud to be delivering a key infrastructure project for Townsville which will increase water security and created jobs during construction.

“This project, along with stages one and two of Riverway Drive, are a major economic catalyst for the Upper Ross region as it continues to grow.

“I’ve been campaigning to improve Townsville’s water supply since I was elected and this project is another way we’re making the city more resilient.”

Quotes attributable to Townsville City Council Deputy Mayor Paul Jacob:

“With around 85 percent of Townsville’s water supply delivered by the new 1.29m-diameter steel pipeline between the dam and the treatment plant, the pipeline was a strong investment in Council’s core services.

“Council is proud to provide excellent service delivery when it comes to ensuring residents get what they expect from a local government, and we will continue to invest in our core services to ensure Townsville is a community-centric city for years to come.”

ENDS

Media contact: Lizzy Aboud – 0474 811 004