HISTORIC FIRST PIPES LAID IN QLD WATER GRID
Published Thursday, 12 October, 2006 at 04:20 PM
JOINT STATEMENT
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Infrastructure
The Honourable Anna Bligh
The first pipes of a major water highway critical to securing south-east Queensland’s future water needs were today laid at Bundamba.
Premier Peter Beattie and Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure Anna Bligh were on hand to help guide into the ground the first of the pipes to link water supplies between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
Mr Beattie said the Southern Regional Water Pipeline was a critical element of the State Government’s comprehensive plan to shore up south-east Queensland’s water supplies in the face of the worst drought on record.
“Today represents a significant milestone in the creation of a water grid that will link existing and new dams and water storage facilities around south-east Queensland,” he said.
“My Government committed during the election to start construction on the 100km pipeline within our first 100 days in office – today we’re delivering.
“Late last month I witnessed the inaugural roll-out of pipes for this project at Tyco Water at Carole Park.
“What we’re seeing here today is the first pipes, just over a meter in diameter, that will eventually carry potable water between Brisbane and the Gold Coast being laid in the ground – one week ahead of schedule.
“Construction of the pipeline is starting here in the Ipswich region, which has become a construction nerve centre for the early stages of the water grid.
“It will then head northwards to Brisbane before heading down to the Gold Coast.”
Ms Bligh said an initial five crews working on both pipelaying and infrastructure would be mobilised by the end of October working in pockets from the Brisbane River to Redbank Plains.
“The project is expected to create about 400 direct jobs, with 160 staff already employed and more employees being sought on a daily basis,” she said.
“Along with 100km of pipeline, the project includes five pump stations, three balance tanks and, road and rail crossings.
“The project is due to be completed by the end of November 2008.”
The State Government has committed more than $100 million to the project to date with early cost estimates for the project at more than $600 million.
Ms Bligh said: “With Queensland’s booming population and in the face of our worst drought in history, our need for secure water supplies has never been greater.
“No one solution will be enough. To meet our water needs we need all options, new dams, recycled water, demand management, desalination and domestic water tanks.
“Activity is ramping up on major projects with early works commencing last month on the desalination plant at Tugun and early site establishment works also underway on the first stage of the Western Corridor Recycled Water project.
“The community has also stepped up to the challenge having already made incredible water savings since water restrictions were introduced in May last year.
“Residential consumption prior to restrictions was estimated at 290 litres per person per day.
“Under Level 3 restrictions consumption has now dropped to an incredible 170 litres per person per day.
“However we can’t afford to rest on our laurels with Summer fast approaching and rainfall levels still low.
“That’s why the Queensland Water Commission is introducing Level 4 restrictions, with a focus on industry, business and government agencies, from the start of November.
“Water is a challenge that will require unprecedented levels of cooperation between the community and all levels of Government. The Southern Regional Water Pipeline is a great example of this.”
The Southern Regional Water Pipeline Company shareholders include Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan, Beaudesert and Gold Coast Councils and SEQ Water.
Executive Director of the Southern Regional Water Pipeline Company (SRWPCo) Graham Thomsen said the pipeline had a 130mgL reverse flow capacity enabling water to be pumped up or down the Queensland’s southern corridor according to the most urgent need.
“Extensive environmental management, cultural heritage management and community consultation has gone into the first stages of getting this project started and this will continue throughout the project to ensure our construction has the least impact into the areas we are going,” he said.
The SRWPCo endorsed an alliance agreement in January this year between KBR, McConnell Dowell and Abigroup to form the SRWP Alliance to plan, design and construct the pipeline.
ENDS
Thursday, 12 October 2006
Media contacts:
Premier’s office: 3224 4500
Deputy Premier’s office: 3224 6900
Premier Peter Beattie and Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure Anna Bligh were on hand to help guide into the ground the first of the pipes to link water supplies between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
Mr Beattie said the Southern Regional Water Pipeline was a critical element of the State Government’s comprehensive plan to shore up south-east Queensland’s water supplies in the face of the worst drought on record.
“Today represents a significant milestone in the creation of a water grid that will link existing and new dams and water storage facilities around south-east Queensland,” he said.
“My Government committed during the election to start construction on the 100km pipeline within our first 100 days in office – today we’re delivering.
“Late last month I witnessed the inaugural roll-out of pipes for this project at Tyco Water at Carole Park.
“What we’re seeing here today is the first pipes, just over a meter in diameter, that will eventually carry potable water between Brisbane and the Gold Coast being laid in the ground – one week ahead of schedule.
“Construction of the pipeline is starting here in the Ipswich region, which has become a construction nerve centre for the early stages of the water grid.
“It will then head northwards to Brisbane before heading down to the Gold Coast.”
Ms Bligh said an initial five crews working on both pipelaying and infrastructure would be mobilised by the end of October working in pockets from the Brisbane River to Redbank Plains.
“The project is expected to create about 400 direct jobs, with 160 staff already employed and more employees being sought on a daily basis,” she said.
“Along with 100km of pipeline, the project includes five pump stations, three balance tanks and, road and rail crossings.
“The project is due to be completed by the end of November 2008.”
The State Government has committed more than $100 million to the project to date with early cost estimates for the project at more than $600 million.
Ms Bligh said: “With Queensland’s booming population and in the face of our worst drought in history, our need for secure water supplies has never been greater.
“No one solution will be enough. To meet our water needs we need all options, new dams, recycled water, demand management, desalination and domestic water tanks.
“Activity is ramping up on major projects with early works commencing last month on the desalination plant at Tugun and early site establishment works also underway on the first stage of the Western Corridor Recycled Water project.
“The community has also stepped up to the challenge having already made incredible water savings since water restrictions were introduced in May last year.
“Residential consumption prior to restrictions was estimated at 290 litres per person per day.
“Under Level 3 restrictions consumption has now dropped to an incredible 170 litres per person per day.
“However we can’t afford to rest on our laurels with Summer fast approaching and rainfall levels still low.
“That’s why the Queensland Water Commission is introducing Level 4 restrictions, with a focus on industry, business and government agencies, from the start of November.
“Water is a challenge that will require unprecedented levels of cooperation between the community and all levels of Government. The Southern Regional Water Pipeline is a great example of this.”
The Southern Regional Water Pipeline Company shareholders include Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan, Beaudesert and Gold Coast Councils and SEQ Water.
Executive Director of the Southern Regional Water Pipeline Company (SRWPCo) Graham Thomsen said the pipeline had a 130mgL reverse flow capacity enabling water to be pumped up or down the Queensland’s southern corridor according to the most urgent need.
“Extensive environmental management, cultural heritage management and community consultation has gone into the first stages of getting this project started and this will continue throughout the project to ensure our construction has the least impact into the areas we are going,” he said.
The SRWPCo endorsed an alliance agreement in January this year between KBR, McConnell Dowell and Abigroup to form the SRWP Alliance to plan, design and construct the pipeline.
ENDS
Thursday, 12 October 2006
Media contacts:
Premier’s office: 3224 4500
Deputy Premier’s office: 3224 6900