Approximately $195 million in funding will be allocated by the Australian Government towards the delivery of Townsville’s Haughton Pipeline Duplication Project Stage 2, delivering on its commitment to help deliver this vital project.
“The Government’s first priority is to invest in Townsville by supporting construction of Stage 2 of the Haughton Pipeline which will create hundreds of jobs and provide greater agricultural benefits.
“Reliable water is something the region needs and deserves, which is why we are investing in this job-creating project for Townsville,” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said.
This project is being delivered with the support of the Australian and Queensland Government as well as the Townsville Council through a City Deal signed in 2016.
“The successful collaboration across the three levels of Government continues and Townsville is reaping the benefits.
“It is expected that more than 600 construction jobs will flow from this project - that is great result for Townsville,” Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure Alan Tudge said.
According to Federal Member for Dawson George Christensen, this investment from the Australian Government will help save money.
“Supporting the Townsville Council to deliver the Stage 2 pipeline means the agricultural channel would not be needed for urban supply and this channel capacity can be made available to irrigators,” Mr Christensen said.
The first stage of the project - which is well underway - is duplicating approximately 36.5 kilometres of pipeline between Ross River Dam and the Haughton Channel and will deliver ancillary upgrades including upgrading the pump stations. Stage 1 is anticipated to be completed by March 2020.
On the other hand, the second stage will extend the duplication from the Haughton Channel to the Burdekin River. Stage 2 will support up to 691 jobs over the three-year construction period and a further 30 full-time ongoing jobs.
“A key benefit of Stage 2 is that it would provide single ownership for Townsville City Council of infrastructure between Burdekin River and Ross River and would allow the council to make all decisions with no reliance on a third party for its water supply.
“Water projects such as Stage 2 will provide jobs for Townsville, enhancing business opportunities and potentially increasing investment, while securing the city’s long-term water supply,” Federal Member for Herbert Phillip Thompson said.
The investment on water security in Townsville was driven by the Townsville Water Security Taskforce with the city council.
The business case for Stage 2 will be providing the project steering committee with engineering and economic information that the council require for the delivery of the pipeline. Through the business case, the Townsville City Council will be able to realise the full savings from the construction of the two stages of the Haughton Pipeline Duplication Project.
These savings, along with the investment from the Australian Government as well as the delivery methods and risk management refined by the council for the first stage, are critical factors to get construction on Stage 2 underway.
Independent advice from Infrastructure Australia will also be provided for the Stage 2 business case.
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Source: Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure; Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development; Mirage News; Australian & New Zealand Infrastructure Pipeline; City of Townsville