Burdekin to Moranbah pipeline now 94% complete

More than 94% of the 216km Burdekin-Moranbah water pipeline has been constructed, Minister for Natural Resources and Water Craig Wallace said today.

Mr Wallace told State Parliament today that the $280 million project was tracking very well, both on time and within budget.

“SunWater has advised that as of today 94% of the pipe is already underground,” Mr Wallace said.

“If work crews continue to get fine weather, the last stretch of the pipeline should be in the ground by December 20.”

SunWater’s construction crews have laid more than 204kms of the pipeline – up to 3km per day – with the remaining work at the Moranbah end, he said.

“Work on the pipeline’s four pumping stations is also continuing, with the first pump already delivered and installed.”

The pumping stations are expected to be completed in mid to late January.

Mr Wallace said partial power supply from Ergon Energy should be up and running by mid February, with water flowing through by the end of March.

“The finished pipeline will carry water from the Burdekin Falls Dam to the Moranbah area, where it will feed the booming coal mining industry.

“The project will deliver 16,800 megalitres of water per year to the BowenBasin, with the potential to increase capacity by a further 6000 megalitres annually.

“In addition to the pipeline, the major infrastructure includes a pump station at Gorge Weir below the Burdekin Falls Dam, three booster pump stations, a 600-megalitre storage point 35km north of Moranbah and a six-megalitre terminal storage unit at Moranbah.”

The smaller storage unit allows connection to the Eungella and eastern spur pipelines.

Six mining companies – BMA Coal, Macarthur Coal, Carborough Downs Coal, Isaac Plains Coal, Rio Tinto Coal Australia and Excel Coal – have entered into an agreement with SunWater to cover the cost of the project via water usage charges over the next 20 years.

Mr Wallace said the pipeline was one of the most expensive infrastructure developments SunWater has ever undertaken.

“I offer my congratulations to all the people who have worked so hard to get this great piece of infrastructure built.”

“Queensland's mining sector is booming with very strong international demand for coking coal.

“Projects such as the Burdekin to Moranbah Pipeline will ensure the industry can fully capitalise on this increasing demand both now and into the future.”

Media contact: Paul Childs, Craig Wallace’s office, on 0407 131 654.