SEQ water grid - Wivenhoe pipeline commenced ...

Laying down the city's water future

9 April 2009

Toowoomba Regional Councillor Paul Antonio said the start of work on the Toowoomba Pipeline signals the start of Toowoomba's positive “water future”.

Workers have completed more than 1100 metres of the pipeline and have 37 kilometres to go on the $187 million project.

As the council's water services portfolio chairman, Cr Antonio said the pipeline was the obvious solution, considering the levels of the dams supplying Toowoomba were below 10 per cent.

“It will provide us with a lot of water. Naturally, I'm quite happy about it,” he said.

“No doubt the pipeline from Wivenhoe is a part of Toowoomba's future, an important part of Toowoomba's water future,” he said.

Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Stirling Hinchliffe said construction had started on rural land west of Esk.

“The 140 construction workers who now have jobs on this project are going flat out and the first of more than 3000 pieces of pipe are in the ground,” Mr Hinchliffe said.

Toowoomba North MP Kerry Shine said the pipeline was critical to supply the Garden City with water.

“It will provide a secure water supply for the estimated 120,000 people who rely on the Cooby, Perseverance and Cressbrook dams,” he said.

The pipeline will supply 14,200 million litres of water a year if needed which is more than 50% more than Toowoomba's current demand.

Cr Antonio said Toowoomba residents still needed to be vigilant with saving water.

He believed most residents would accept they would have to pay more for water in the future to meet the expense of the project.

“The water prices will go up but at the same time Toowoomba Regional Council will be focused on subsidising water saving devices and tanks,” Cr Antonio said.

He said the council would also try to get the State Government to reinstate subsides for rainwater tanks.

See - The Chronicle - Laying down the city's water future.