$49 million for state-of-the-art Gold Coast water recycling project: Fraser

October 18 2006

$49 million for state-of-the-art Gold Coast water recycling project: Fraser

The State Government is delivering on its commitment to secure Queensland’s water supplies by providing more than $49 million towards the construction of a wastewater and recycled water treatment plant at Pimpama on the Gold Coast.

Premier Peter Beattie and Local Government and Planning Minister Andrew Fraser today announced the funding for the plant which is projected to ultimately reduce demand for household water by 84 per cent at this next growth hot spot.

Mr Fraser was joined by Albert MP Margaret Keech, Gold Coast Mayor Ron Clarke and the Council’s Water Sustainability Committee Chair Cr Daphne McDonald to turn the first sod to mark the start of construction and at the same time he announced the government’s funding commitment.

Mr Beattie said the plant represented a key element of the Beattie Government’s comprehensive plan to deliver water saving initiatives to South-east Queensland.

“As the entire country continues to be crippled by the worst drought in a generation, Queensland is leading the way by actually providing innovative solutions as we move ahead and deliver the water grid,” Mr Beattie said.

“This project plays a key role in the Pimpama-Coomera Waterfuture Master Plan and is the first of its kind to be carried out on this scale in Australia, covering a 7000-hectare area between the Coomera and LoganRivers.”

Mr Fraser said it was vital the correct water infrastructure was put in place now to meet the demands of the future, which would be significant in the Gold Coast to Brisbane corridor.

“It aims to provide wastewater and recycled water services to the rapidly growing communities of Coomera, Pimpama, Jacobs Well and Cabbage Tree Point,” Mr Fraser said.

“These are areas that are among some of the fastest growing in the state.

“The population of these communities is expected to increase by more than 70,000 over the next 15 years so large-scale infrastructure like this will be required to meet the huge additional demand on local water supply.

“When the project is complete, 120,000 residents will be provided with recycled water for toilet flushing and external uses such as washing their cars and hosing their gardens and reduce demand on the drinking water supply by up to 84 per cent.”

Mrs Keech said the Pimpama-Coomera Waterfuture Master Plan had recently taken out first prize in the Planning Category at the International Water Association Project Innovation Awards in Beijing.

“It’s also fitting that today’s event is taking place in National Water Week,” Mrs Keech said.

“It’s imperative that the whole community understands that as individuals, everyone can take action to protect and conserve our precious water resources.

“As a Government, we need to find solutions that will ensure the long-term sustainability of our water supplies for future generations.

“I would like to congratulate the Gold Coast City Council for taking the lead in this challenge with this initiative.”

Mr Fraser said the project was funded under the Beattie Government’s Water and Sewerage Program (WASP), which provides assistance to local governments for water and sewerage infrastructure.

Media Contact: Chris Taylor 3227 8825 or 0419 710 874