Major Fitzroy and Gladstone water project pending approval from Queensland Government

It’s a major project that could provide a long-term water security solution for urban and industrial customers in the Gladstone region and “future proof” other areas of Central Queensland. Here’s where it is currently at.

A major project which would provide a long-term solution to water security in the Gladstone region is set to have a decision on whether or not it can progress, sometime this year.

Construction of the Fitzroy to Gladstone Pipeline is still pending approval by the Queensland Government, with pre-construction activities for the project continuing.

A decision on the project was originally expected to be made by mid 2022, but that has not eventuated as yet.

The proposed pipeline is an option to address the single-source water supply risk from Awoonga Dam, enabling long-term water security for urban and industrial customer of Gladstone Area Water Board, and in turn supporting direct and indirect employment to Queenslanders.

The project would comprise of approximately 116km of pipeline between Rockhampton and Gladstone, a water treatment plant, reservoirs and pumping stations.

A spokesperson for GAWB said the project would “significantly” contribute to the economic prosperity and resilience of both Gladstone and Queensland for “generations to come”.

“The security and reliability of water supply is integral to the operations of multibillion-dollar industrial plants, with over 80 per cent of all water supplied in Gladstone for industrial use,” the spokesperson said.

“Continued drought seasons have increased water security risks, with only one inflow event in ten years being greater than the 388,000 megalitres required to reach full capacity of Lake Awoonga.

“The pipeline could also support the emerging hydrogen and renewables sector that is set to expand in Gladstone.”

In March, the Gladstone Area Water Board short-listed two companies to participate in an early contractor involvement process to identify a preferred contractor to construct the pipeline.

The two contractors were McConnell Dowell and CPB Contractors.

If approved, construction on the pipeline would take about three years, weather and construction conditions permitting.

It would also be “future-proofed” to provide extra water security to both Rockhampton and Livingstone.

“Should the project be approved for construction, the delivery authority and construction contractor would partner with local suppliers to deliver tangible benefits to the Central Queensland region such as jobs, supply contracts and local capability raising,” a spokesperson for the GAWB said.

“The Fitzroy to Gladstone Pipeline as proposed will also be ‘future-proofed’ which provides flexibility to upgrade the pipeline to a bi-directional flow in the medium term, providing an additional water security option for the Rockhampton and Livingstone communities.”