Toowoomba water - Wivenhoe to Cressbrook Dam pipeline project on track ...
The Chronicle:
Pipeline project on track
6 July 2009
Toowoomba is well on the way to receiving its first water from the Wivenhoe Pipeline, with 60 per cent of the installation now in the ground.
“We are on track to completing this project by January next year, so Toowoomba residents can breathe an early sigh of relief,” Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Stirling Hinchliffe said.
“Just four months after the first pipe was laid, we are almost two-thirds complete in this phase of construction.”
The Toowoomba Pipeline Alliance has this week laid more than 23 kilometres of the 38 kilometre pipeline linking Wivenhoe to Cressbrook Dam. It will reach the two-thirds installation milestone (25km) by Friday, unless it is held up by rain.
Crews have also commenced construction of one of the two pumps which will draw water from Wivenhoe, push it up a 260-metre elevation at the highest point along the pipeline corridor and deliver it to Cressbrook Dam.
Mr Hinchliffe visited the construction site near Wivenhoe Dam on Friday to help the Toowoomba Pipeline Alliance celebrate its latest milestone.
“While south-east Queensland’s dams sit at 76% of capacity after the rain in May, we should not forget that Toowoomba’s dams received very little from that rain event,” Mr Hinchliffe said.
The combined level of the Garden City’s three dams increased by only 1.5% to 10.9%, despite 100 millimetres of rain falling over the catchment area in mid-May.
“I’m also told the project has directly injected more than $6.5 million into the local community through the purchase of goods and services,” he said.
“The team has tested nine kilometres of pipeline already and, so far, they have a 100% success rate. Testing during construction ensures any faults can be picked up and fixed up early,” Mr Hinchliffe said.
Mayor Peter Taylor said the pipeline was essential.
“The drought, together with the fact that Toowoomba is built on the top of the range 670 metres above sea level, provides unique engineering and operational challenges in the provision of potable water,” he said.
The Toowoomba Pipeline, which has the capacity to deliver 14,200 megalitres (ML) of water a year to Cressbrook Dam, or 39 ML per day if needed, is being constructed by an alliance formed by LinkWater Projects, including Clough Projects, Diversified Construction and AECOM.
See - The Chronicle - Pipeline project on track.
posted by Concerned Ratepayer at 12:06 PM
23 Comments:
Is it on track financially or more cost blow outs?
5:46 PM, July 06, 2009
It is reported that the costs are already blown out and no-one knows who's paying the bill!
I would like to know what happened to the idea that Peter Taylor supported back in 2006 where we would pipe water in from Norwin?
They would not be facing the engineering feats they face in pumping tonnes of water up a mountain if this government and council would look at it as a reasonable option.
Marvelous what this government will put the people through because we rejected their idea.
We have committed a terrible sin and stood up to them and told them what they could do with there "unsafe recycled sewage" supply.
6:32 PM, July 06, 2009
The Wivenhoe pipeline was an alternative offered under the No case in 2006.
7:26 PM, July 06, 2009
Not by the general No case people!
It was an option put up by the Water Task Force which was loaded with the Yes case people and council rep's.
Clive Berghofer was on that committee and he did not agree that the Wivenhoe pipeline was the best way to go and he was out-voted by the Flanagan brigade.
It's all about politics and not about the good of the community- it never was!
10:53 PM, July 06, 2009
Point 27 of the official No case:
27. A pipeline from Wivenhoe Dam to Cressbrook Dam, about 33km with about 175m lift is a viable option.
2:00 AM, July 07, 2009
That maybe because at that time there was NO RECYCLED SEWAGE likely to be in Wivenhoe Dam.
The task force set up by the government was top heavy with the Yes case people. These are the persons who put forward that idea- NOT the No case team in Toowoomba.
8:13 AM, July 07, 2009
From the official Yes case:
• Opponents have claimed that these alternatives have not been properly considered. This is not true. Each of these options were analysed and found not to be able to reliably supply the amount of water Toowoomba needs for the future or were too expensive to build and operate, or both.
The Queensland Government has written to Toowoomba City Council advising that taking water from Wivenhoe Dam or building a new dam at Emu Creek would not be allowed, as both of these would take water away from South East Queensland, which is also suffering from a water shortage.
11:28 AM, July 07, 2009
Wait a second. You say the Yes case people put forward the Wivenhoe idea. But it is point 27 of the official No case from the referendum. And the official Yes case says it's not an option. Are you saying that the Yes team wrote the official No case?
Your only objection to the Wivenhoe pipeline is because the government might put recycled water into Wivenhoe. You should say that rather than saying the pipeline isn't a viable option. If it was viable in 2006 when it was part of the official No case why is it not viable now?
11:32 AM, July 07, 2009
Anon 11.32am - You trivialise our objections by your statement: "Your only objection to the Wivenhoe pipeline is because the government might put recycled water into Wivenhoe."
Unless you've had your head up your bum for the past 3 years or so, you would realise that the whole argument has been over some crass, money-driven idiots wanting to force people to drink what is best described as diluted sewage. The people don't want to drink this diluted sewage. Look at the cock-ups with adding sodium fluoride to the water - massive overdose. Imagine what will happen with sewage.
Can someone like you, with what appears to be a double digit IQ, understand that? Or would you like me to re-post with single syllable words and pretty pictures?
5:05 PM, July 07, 2009
Mr T, your insults are exactly what the No case people complained of during the whole water debate. You all said that the Yes case people could only insult the No case people, not discuss a point. Shoe's on the other foot now.
Look at it this way. If the Queensland government said they would never put recycled water into Wivenhoe, would you object to the Wivenhoe pipeline?
No, because the pipeline provides Toowoomba with the water breathing space it may need until it rains.
Your only concern is the possibility that the Queensland government might put recycled water into Wivenhoe and that some of it might eventually make its way to Toowoomba.
Wouldn't you all be better off letting them build the pipeline even if its costs overrun and pressure Bligh and the others in Brisbane to find commercial users for the recycled water, just as Singapore has?
Pressure the government into a two-tiered pricing regime which prices recycled water cheaper to make it more attractive to industry.
Pressure the government to change planning laws to require nearby heavy industry to take the recycled water and bear any connection costs.
Do the sums, if the power stations and enough commercial users take recycled water, there's unlikely to be any left over to put into Wivenhoe. If Wivenhoe levels drop, the desalination plant at the Gold Coast can assist with increasing levels. That's the good part about a water grid. You can pipe the water to where it is needed.
6:07 PM, July 07, 2009
Anon 6.07pm - try reading my post and tell me where I said I am against the Wivenhoe Pipeline? Typical response.
So from what I can work out, my comments were not insults, merely the truth. You may actually rate yourself higher than many others would.
You trivialised our objections to drinking recycled sewage water - I am sick of listening to garbage from idiots over this issue.
The use of recycled sewage water for drinking will never be safe - that is the point I was discussing - not the Wivenhoe Pipeline.
Tell me - is the Wivenhoe Pipeline going to be hooked up to the existing recycled water pipeline going to Tarong powerstation or is the pipeline going to be hooked up to Wivenhoe Dam off a special jetty?
I think you miss the entire point with recycled sewage water - the intention is to make people drink the stuff - that is where the massive profits are going to be made - all round the world. There must be a population forced to drink this rubbish to make it marketable. And, with Qld Health overseeing all this, there will be no health problems, will there. Are you part of this?
7:44 PM, July 07, 2009
- Can someone like you, with what appears to be a double digit IQ, understand that?
- you've had your head up your bum for the past 3 years or so
- You may actually rate yourself higher than many others would.
The only thing you didn't call me was a flat earther. And they said the Yes case people hurled insults instead of arguments!
8:17 PM, July 07, 2009
Any my comment remains, if the Queensland government said they wouldn't add recycled water to Wivenhoe, would anyone object to the pipeline to Toowoomba?
Get out and convince the government to adopt the strategy I outlined. That would be a good use of your time.
8:24 PM, July 07, 2009
Anon 8.17pm - it would be good if you actually answered my questions ..... it appears you are incapable of doing this.
Perhaps my assessment of you is correct.
8:25 PM, July 07, 2009
Sticks and stones ...
Following my strategy would be a better use of your time.
8:28 PM, July 07, 2009
Why would the Wivenhoe Pipeline be hooked up to the existing recycled water pipeline going to Tarong power station?
8:31 PM, July 07, 2009
Anon 8.31: why recycled water to Cressbrook?
Meets the government criteria:
1. Cressbrook etc less than 40% (Bligh said recycled sewage water to be added to dams when dam levels fall below 40%)
2. Water into Cressbrook is to be stopped at the 40% level (TRC). At this level, no (recycled sewage) water to be added - see Point 1 above.
3. TRC "water scientist" gave recent talk on what was originally called, using my not-so-good memory, "Reclaimed water pipeline Wivenhoe to Cressbrook".
4. I absolutely do NOT trust anyone in this State Government.
5. I've heard the desal pipeline joins into the recycled sewage water pipeline in Brisbane. All this water is meant to be used as drinking water.
Let's hear your version.
9:06 PM, July 07, 2009
- Bligh said recycled sewage water to be added to dams when dam levels fall below 40%.
That's torturing the truth. She has always meant Brisbane dams.
I don't trust the Queensland government either hence my lobbying suggestions - a productive use of time.
- I've heard the desal pipeline joins into the recycled sewage water pipeline in Brisbane.
Interesting - can you verify it? Not much use if you can't.
9:14 PM, July 07, 2009
Anon 9.14: I don't think I am torturing the truth - check out Bligh's honesty record.
The bit about the desal pipeline - I did say "I heard" - from an electrical engineer with whom I work. Sorry, no photos. And it's all under ground now.
9:36 PM, July 07, 2009
Must be some plans around somewhere. Try a FOI request. Get active.
10:35 PM, July 07, 2009
So what's the answer folks
And don't say Norwin as the resource is cactus, kaput and whatever other dire words you can think of (not to mention the farmers who would lose what little water they have now)
Another dam - would be just as dry as Cressbrook et al
Coal seam gas - unknown quantity available and then for limited timeframe. All gas gone = no water. Full of god knows what nasties (big study about to commence to find out) that has to be treated by RO (a technology invented by the devil according to some people)
Bottom line is whether or not the pipeline gets used Toowoomba ratepayers will be paying for it
5:10 PM, July 08, 2009
Build the pipeline.
Use it.
And if CSG water becomes viable, use it as well.
Given the plans of BG and Santos, it is unlikely that there will be any shortage of CSG water in the next 20 plus years.
12:48 AM, July 09, 2009
The coal seam water is not measured and no one really knows how much is there. It varies as to what's in it too. The QGC had done tests and it was good water after osmosis was completed and it was estimated to be about 30 years worth.
This is quite a different process to sifting shit out of sewage!
The community would accept using coal seam water way before sipping from the sewer!
10:30 AM, July 09, 2009
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