Published Sunday, 03 August, 2008 at 05:00 AM
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
END GAME FOR WATER GRID
PREMIER Anna Bligh has said the ‘end game’ is in sight for construction of the $9 billion South East Queensland Water Grid with 85% of the project pipeline now in the ground.
With water restrictions due to be eased this week the Premier said water security for Queensland was finally within the grasp of the south-east corner.
“The last pipe of the Southern Region pipeline is due to be laid within a fortnight linking the Brisbane and Gold Coast water supplies for the first time in the history of the state,” said the Premier.
“That is an incredibly significant moment and the fact is we are entering the end game for one of the biggest projects Queensland has ever seen.
“There is still a lot of work to be done but with 85% of the pipelines, or 340 kilometres,
now in the ground we are bang on schedule and getting on with the job.”
The new supplies will provide enough extra water each day for 1.5 million people meeting Target 170.
But Premier Bligh said there will be no let up in the work, even though the region’s dams have finally climbed back over 40 per cent.
“The dams are still 60 per cent empty and we’re getting on with the job of drought proofing our water supplies,” said Ms Bligh.
“The extra rain and great water savings by families have made a real difference to our dam levels, soon they’ll be boosted even more by the $9 billion Water Grid.
“This is an unprecedented construction and engineering achievement that will benefit Queenslanders for generations to come.
“There are more than four thousand workers from labourers, electricians, construction and pipe specialists to the professionals the designers, technicians and engineers.
“To date more than 34,000 pieces of pipe and fittings had been installed and more than 11 million man hours worked.”
Around 400 kilometres of Water Grid pipeline will be complete by the end of this year, with key features including:
Western Corridor Recycled Water Project: 185 kilometres of more than 200 kilometres in the ground. 41 ML/day already being provided to Swanbank and Tarong North Power Stations and completion scheduled for November.
Gold Coast Desalination Project: 80% complete. First water in November, building to full production in January.
Southern Regional Water Pipeline: 92 kilometres laid of 94 kilometres. Sections now undergoing hydro-testing.
Northern Pipeline Interconnector Stage 1: 36 kilometres laid of 47 kilometres.
Eastern Pipeline Interconnector: 7 kilometres laid of 8 kilometres
Stage 2 projects of the Water Grid from 2009 onwards includes the Northern Pipeline Interconnector Stage 2 (to connect the grid to the proposed Traveston Dam), the pipeline to supply Toowoomba and the proposed Traveston Crossing and Wyaralong Dams.
Media inquiries: Robert Hoge 0419 757 868, Matt Klar 0437 435 223
With water restrictions due to be eased this week the Premier said water security for Queensland was finally within the grasp of the south-east corner.
“The last pipe of the Southern Region pipeline is due to be laid within a fortnight linking the Brisbane and Gold Coast water supplies for the first time in the history of the state,” said the Premier.
“That is an incredibly significant moment and the fact is we are entering the end game for one of the biggest projects Queensland has ever seen.
“There is still a lot of work to be done but with 85% of the pipelines, or 340 kilometres,
now in the ground we are bang on schedule and getting on with the job.”
The new supplies will provide enough extra water each day for 1.5 million people meeting Target 170.
But Premier Bligh said there will be no let up in the work, even though the region’s dams have finally climbed back over 40 per cent.
“The dams are still 60 per cent empty and we’re getting on with the job of drought proofing our water supplies,” said Ms Bligh.
“The extra rain and great water savings by families have made a real difference to our dam levels, soon they’ll be boosted even more by the $9 billion Water Grid.
“This is an unprecedented construction and engineering achievement that will benefit Queenslanders for generations to come.
“There are more than four thousand workers from labourers, electricians, construction and pipe specialists to the professionals the designers, technicians and engineers.
“To date more than 34,000 pieces of pipe and fittings had been installed and more than 11 million man hours worked.”
Around 400 kilometres of Water Grid pipeline will be complete by the end of this year, with key features including:
Western Corridor Recycled Water Project: 185 kilometres of more than 200 kilometres in the ground. 41 ML/day already being provided to Swanbank and Tarong North Power Stations and completion scheduled for November.
Gold Coast Desalination Project: 80% complete. First water in November, building to full production in January.
Southern Regional Water Pipeline: 92 kilometres laid of 94 kilometres. Sections now undergoing hydro-testing.
Northern Pipeline Interconnector Stage 1: 36 kilometres laid of 47 kilometres.
Eastern Pipeline Interconnector: 7 kilometres laid of 8 kilometres
Stage 2 projects of the Water Grid from 2009 onwards includes the Northern Pipeline Interconnector Stage 2 (to connect the grid to the proposed Traveston Dam), the pipeline to supply Toowoomba and the proposed Traveston Crossing and Wyaralong Dams.
Media inquiries: Robert Hoge 0419 757 868, Matt Klar 0437 435 223