FINAL WATER GRID PIPE LAID

Premier Anna Bligh has marked a major milestone for Queensland as workers laid the last piece of pipe on the Western Corridor Recycled Water Project section of the $9 billion Water Grid.

The Premier signed the last piece of pipe on the 208km Western Corridor project at Gibson Island before it was lowered into the ground.

“This is a truly historic moment. This last piece of major pipe is the key to our future water security,” said the Premier.

“What this $9 billion water grid does is give Queensland the water security it needs to prosper.”

The Premier said the pipe was also the last to be laid by the State Government in the total of 390 kilometres first stage of the Water Grid, which had been delivered on time and on budget.

“That’s a total of 58,000 items including some 30,000 pipes and 10,000 fittings with the remainder minor items such as couplings used in joining the pipes,” she said.

“In all we estimate that some 11,000 truckloads of pipe were delivered safely to respective project alliances across South East Queensland to build the grid.

“Of course the real champions here are the 4000 tireless Water Grid workers who have collectively clocked up more than 12 million hours, we all owe them a big thank you.

“The State Government is completing the job of not only providing the water needed to cope with South East Queensland’s worst drought on record, but also climate change and population growth for decades to come.

“This last pipe laying means that around $5 billion has already been spent on this massive project.”

The only remaining sections of the water grid to start construction are the Traveston Crossing and Wyaralong dams and the second stage of the Northern Pipeline Interconncetor.

The section of pipe on the Western Corridor will link the Luggage Point and Gibson Island Advanced Water Treatment Plants with Bundamba.

The Bundamba plant is already pumping purified recycled water to Swanbank power station and has so far replaced more than 7 billion litres that would have been drawn from Wivenhoe Dam.

“The Luggage Point and Gibson Island plants are on track to be completed by the end of this month and the first purified recycled water will top up Wivenhoe Dam from next March, after a rigorous testing and approval regime.

“The Western Corridor Recycled Water Project will be able to produce more than 140 million litres of water each day, enough water for more than 820,000 people under Target 170.”

Deputy Premier Paul Lucas said in recent days the last piece of pipe has also been laid in the $350 million Stage One of the Northern Pipeline Interconnector, running from Caboolture to the Sunshine Coast.

“This was the last of 3900 pipes laid since November last year over a 47 kilometre stretch, which is a tremendous effort from the workers,” said Mr Lucas.

“This pipeline will link the Sunshine Coast to the $9 billion Water Grid for the first time, providing a more secure future for everyone.

“We have already laid the last pipe on the 94 kilometre Southern Regional Water Pipeline and the 8.4 kilometre Eastern Pipeline Interconnector, linking the Gold Coast, Ipswich, Logan and Redlands to the Water Grid.

“Work on the $1.2 billion desalination plant is very advanced with the project on track to produce up to 40 ML a day from November 30, 2008.

“At full production next January the plant will be supplying up to 125ML a day of water, which is enough for about 700,000 people under Target 170.

“Gold Coast City Council is also finishing its 10 kilometres of pumps and pipes, that will join the desalination plant to the Southern Regional Water Pipeline.”

Media inquiries: Robert Hoge 0419757868