WATER GRID BEGINS TO TAKE SHAPE

Acting Premier Anna Bligh today announced the preferred construction partners to build the vital Western Corridor Recycled Water network.

Ms Bligh said the two successful consortia are:

* McConnell Dowell and Abigroup in relation to the construction of pipelines between Bundamba and Tarong Power Station’s existing water supply system – the ‘western pipeline alliance’.

* AJ Lucas, Transfield Services and McCalls in relation to pipelines between Luggage Point and Bundamba – the ‘eastern alliance’.

Ms Bligh said the two groups were identified after a rigorous evaluation process.

The approval of the construction partners signals the start of the interim alliance agreement phase of the recycled water project.

This involves preparing detailed designs and target cost estimates for government’s consideration, which is expected to be completed within the next two months.

The Acting Premier said the Western Corridor Recycled Water Project will provide recycled water to Tarong and Swanbank power stations, other industry and possibly agricultural users thereby potentially freeing up more than 200 million litres of potable water a day for use in South East Queensland.

“These new appointments are a clear indication that delivery of the South East Queensland water grid is progressing and demonstrates the Beattie Government’s commitment to secure sustainable and reliable water supplies for all users in the region.

“In cooperation with the councils of South East Queensland, the Government is determined to put in place critical drought response measures.

“In 2006-07, our Government has so far allocated $435 million towards the Western Corridor Recycled Water Scheme.

“This includes funding of over $330 million announced prior to the election so that tendering could proceed and the construction of the Western Corridor Recycled Water pipeline system could be brought forward.”

Construction work for both the eastern and western pipelines is expected to begin in early 2007.

In other developments the Queensland Government on Friday began the process of acquiring the land needed for a vital link in the water grid.

The seven km-long corridor of land, between Bundamba and Swanbank will be the route for the early stages of both the Western Corridor Recycled Water Pipeline and the Southern Regional Water Pipeline.

The Coordinator-General, which began consulting the community and local landowners in March this year, is in the process of buying land and will issue notices of intention to resume to 26 property owners along the corridor route.

The Acting Premier said the Government had decided that because of the urgent need for the pipelines, it would begin the process of compulsorily acquiring the Bundamba-Swanbank corridor. Where possible the pipeline will be located in existing easements such as the Powerlink easement.

“However, wherever possible, the Coordinator-General will negotiate acquisition of the necessary corridor with the property owner,” she said.

The width of the corridor will generally be up to about 30 metres wide, except where it follows a Powerlink easement.

The Queensland Government is also issuing notices of entry to a number of Ipswich landowners so investigation of the next stage of the preferred route of the recycled water grid can proceed.

“A current preferred alignment has been identified after assessment,” she said.

“However, we need to assess and define the route and we can only do that after investigation.

“In order to minimise impact on the community, the project has been located within or adjacent to existing public infrastructure corridors.”

BACKGROUND ON PREFERRED CONSTRUCTION PARTNERS

The western alliance McConnell Dowell/Abigroup team has highly relevant recent experience in constructing water pipelines in non-metropolitan areas and the team is therefore strongly suited to the western sections of the pipeline network.

A key attraction of this team is the availability of the staff and equipment that McConnell Dowell has employed on the Burdekin to Moranbah water pipeline. In addition, the McConnell Dowell/Abigroup team involves people with local knowledge and experience from the Southern Regional Water Pipeline project and other recent projects on the Gold Coast.

The eastern alliance AJ Lucas/Transfield/McCall team has vast experience in the construction of water pipelines in urban environments all around Australia, including current potable and recycled water projects in Victoria and Western Australia. The team includes people who are highly qualified in the use of trenchless technology and leading edge underground construction techniques.

AJ Lucas recently achieved world-class performance on a new 1.8 kilometre water pipeline installation beneath the Chatswood business district in New South Wales. This experience will be invaluable in relation to tunnelling under the Brisbane River and for minimising disruption to motorists and impacts on other infrastructure services.

Media Contact: Deputy Premier’s Office 3224 4379