Published Wednesday, 21 February, 2007 at 05:55 AM
Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Infrastructure
The Honourable Anna Bligh
GOVT PULLS OUT ALL STOPS ON RECYCLED WATER PROJECT
21 February 2007
Workers will operate around the clock from mid next week on Queensland’s new recycled water scheme as the Government intensifies efforts to complete the vital water project on time.
Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Infrastructure Anna Bligh said working hours on the first stage of the project would be extended from 12 hours a day to 24 hours a day from Monday to Saturday for the next six to eight months.
“The extended hours will start from Wednesday, 28 February,” Ms Bligh said.
“We are pulling out all stops to make sure this critical project is completed as quickly as humanly possible without compromising safety within the tight timeframes that have been set,” she said.
“The $1.7 billion project is being delivered in stages with the first stage supplying recycled water to Swanbank Power Station, and later Tarong Power Station and the second stage adding purified recycled water to our main dam system,” she said.
“The 24-hour works will help us get up to 20ML of recycled water per day to Swanbank Power Station by the end of August this year.
“It will also provide a jumpstart on the next phase of the project which will deliver up to a further 80ML a day to Tarong Power station by the end of June 2008.
“Pivotal to both these stages is the construction of an advanced water treatment plant at Bundamba which is complex and specialised.
“The plant involves a multi-stage process, including microfiltration, reverse osmosis and advanced oxidation to deliver purified recycled water.
“The extended hours will allow the construction of the buildings to house the process equipment as well as the large storage reservoirs that will be used to store water at the start and end of the treatment process.
“The actual concrete batching will occur at an industrial site at Wacol, so the impacts will primarily result from trucks carrying concrete to the Bundamba site and the pouring of concrete as well as construction activities such as steel fixing.
“A workforce of approximately 400, including construction workers and engineers, will operate in a number of shifts across 24 hours over a six to eight-month period.
“Pipe laying will continue during normal daylight hours from 6.30am to 6.30pm by separate teams. We don’t envisage at this time needing to extend working hours for the pipe laying which is on track.
“However there may be other times during construction of the project that 24-hour shifts need to be used.
“This could be on the other two advanced water treatment plants at Gibson Island and Luggage Point and when the pipeline goes under the Brisbane River at Pinkenba.
“We are continually assessing the progress of the each stage of the project and will take whatever steps are necessary to meet our deadlines.”
Ms Bligh said the Government and project team were working closely with the Ipswich City Council and Mayor Paul Pisasale to minimise the project’s impact on local residents.
“About 28 households living within the immediate vicinity of the Bundamba site on Nelson Street will be affected by the 24-hour works,” she said.
“Where possible, work that has the least impact on residents will be undertaken at night including the pouring of concrete and steel fixing.
“The main impacts of the extended working hours are possible noise disturbance and light intrusion.
“Letters were hand delivered to these 28 households on Nelson Street yesterday (Tuesday).
“A further 180 residents who live within a 1km radius of the site and are less directly affected, will also be sent letters advising them of the extended operating hours.”
Ms Bligh said a range of measures agreed to by Council would be put in place to notify residents of the extended working hours and to limit their impact on households.
“A 24-hour hotline has been set up (1800 997 464) to respond to concerns from residents at any time of the night and enable action to be taken to rectify the issue.
“Other steps that are being taken include:
• floodlights needed to illuminate the Bundamba site will be placed low and positioned to shine away from residential areas
• low impact flashing lights on equipment
• the volume of reversing alarms on plant will be reduced
• truck access to the Bundamba site will avoid residential streets – access will be via the Warrego Highway, Ashburn Road and Archer Street; and
• regular noise monitoring will be undertaken
“The project team will constantly monitor the impact of the extended hours and take any further steps necessary to reduce noise and traffic impacts.
“I would like to thank the residents living around the site of the plant for their patience and understanding as we move as quickly as possible to complete this critical water project to ensure the south-east has the water it needs now and for the future.”
Media contact: Steve Keating 3224 4379
Workers will operate around the clock from mid next week on Queensland’s new recycled water scheme as the Government intensifies efforts to complete the vital water project on time.
Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Infrastructure Anna Bligh said working hours on the first stage of the project would be extended from 12 hours a day to 24 hours a day from Monday to Saturday for the next six to eight months.
“The extended hours will start from Wednesday, 28 February,” Ms Bligh said.
“We are pulling out all stops to make sure this critical project is completed as quickly as humanly possible without compromising safety within the tight timeframes that have been set,” she said.
“The $1.7 billion project is being delivered in stages with the first stage supplying recycled water to Swanbank Power Station, and later Tarong Power Station and the second stage adding purified recycled water to our main dam system,” she said.
“The 24-hour works will help us get up to 20ML of recycled water per day to Swanbank Power Station by the end of August this year.
“It will also provide a jumpstart on the next phase of the project which will deliver up to a further 80ML a day to Tarong Power station by the end of June 2008.
“Pivotal to both these stages is the construction of an advanced water treatment plant at Bundamba which is complex and specialised.
“The plant involves a multi-stage process, including microfiltration, reverse osmosis and advanced oxidation to deliver purified recycled water.
“The extended hours will allow the construction of the buildings to house the process equipment as well as the large storage reservoirs that will be used to store water at the start and end of the treatment process.
“The actual concrete batching will occur at an industrial site at Wacol, so the impacts will primarily result from trucks carrying concrete to the Bundamba site and the pouring of concrete as well as construction activities such as steel fixing.
“A workforce of approximately 400, including construction workers and engineers, will operate in a number of shifts across 24 hours over a six to eight-month period.
“Pipe laying will continue during normal daylight hours from 6.30am to 6.30pm by separate teams. We don’t envisage at this time needing to extend working hours for the pipe laying which is on track.
“However there may be other times during construction of the project that 24-hour shifts need to be used.
“This could be on the other two advanced water treatment plants at Gibson Island and Luggage Point and when the pipeline goes under the Brisbane River at Pinkenba.
“We are continually assessing the progress of the each stage of the project and will take whatever steps are necessary to meet our deadlines.”
Ms Bligh said the Government and project team were working closely with the Ipswich City Council and Mayor Paul Pisasale to minimise the project’s impact on local residents.
“About 28 households living within the immediate vicinity of the Bundamba site on Nelson Street will be affected by the 24-hour works,” she said.
“Where possible, work that has the least impact on residents will be undertaken at night including the pouring of concrete and steel fixing.
“The main impacts of the extended working hours are possible noise disturbance and light intrusion.
“Letters were hand delivered to these 28 households on Nelson Street yesterday (Tuesday).
“A further 180 residents who live within a 1km radius of the site and are less directly affected, will also be sent letters advising them of the extended operating hours.”
Ms Bligh said a range of measures agreed to by Council would be put in place to notify residents of the extended working hours and to limit their impact on households.
“A 24-hour hotline has been set up (1800 997 464) to respond to concerns from residents at any time of the night and enable action to be taken to rectify the issue.
“Other steps that are being taken include:
• floodlights needed to illuminate the Bundamba site will be placed low and positioned to shine away from residential areas
• low impact flashing lights on equipment
• the volume of reversing alarms on plant will be reduced
• truck access to the Bundamba site will avoid residential streets – access will be via the Warrego Highway, Ashburn Road and Archer Street; and
• regular noise monitoring will be undertaken
“The project team will constantly monitor the impact of the extended hours and take any further steps necessary to reduce noise and traffic impacts.
“I would like to thank the residents living around the site of the plant for their patience and understanding as we move as quickly as possible to complete this critical water project to ensure the south-east has the water it needs now and for the future.”
Media contact: Steve Keating 3224 4379