Construction ramps up on next stage of water grid

The next component of the $9 billion South East Queensland water grid is underway with work on the Bromelton Off-Stream Storage facility near Beaudesert last night moving to a 24-hour, six-day-a-week schedule.

Inspecting the facility today, Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Paul Lucas said the $39.5 million Bromelton Off-Stream Storage Facility was one of the state’s smart solutions to providing water security.

"We can’t control when and how much it rains," Mr Lucas said

"But we can make sure we are as prepared as possible for future fluctuations in rainfall and for population growth in South East Queensland – and this is what this project is all about."

The Bromelton facility adjacent to the Logan River will work in conjunction with the proposed Wyaralong Dam and the Cedar Grove Weir. It provides the ability to store water after major rainfall events, which can be released back into Logan River and ultimately Cedar Grove Weir when flows are slow.

Mr Lucas said working in conjunction with the Wyaralong Dam and Cedar Grove Weir, the combined facilities will yield 26,000 million litres of drinking water a year. The Bromelton Off-Stream Storage facility will deliver up to 5,000 million litres of drinking water a year and will improve reliability of the Logan River Water Supply Scheme if drought hits again.

Mr Lucas said that as well helping to drought-proof south-east Queensland, the project will ensure the growth corridor would cope with urban and industrial development over coming decades.

"This is another link in what is becoming recognised as one of Australia’s iconic engineering projects," Mr Lucas said.

"Workers have been pushing more than 11,000 cubic metres of dirt around a day for about three weeks. Now we’re stepping up the pace and we’ll go from having 50 workers on site to over 70 and they’ll be moving about 16,000 cubic metres a day.

"This will mean the end of uncertainty for the Beaudesert region – it’s an insurance policy that will ensure consistent flows downstream, from where water will be distributed to Beaudesert and ultimately into the Water Grid from Cedar Grove.

"Ensuring we can continue to quench the south east’s thirst for population and economic growth is going to be one of my top priorities as Deputy Premier.

"The hard hat and safety vest are on and I’m ready to work."

The facility will look similar to a large farm dam, with a 9m-high embankment, and will be fed by a 1.5km pipeline from the Logan River.

The facility is expected to be completed in mid 2008, well in advance of the March 2009 target, which was already 18 months ahead of the original target.

Media inquiries: Robert Hoge 0419 757 868