Ross River Dam to Douglas Water Treatment Plant pipeline project completed

A pipeline stretching 10 kilometres from Ross River Dam to the Douglas Water Treatment Plant has been completed after the previous pipeline ruptured years before expected.

(L-R) The Minister for Regional Development, Manufacturing and Minister for Water Glenn Butcher, Member for Thuringowa Aaron Harper and Townsville City Council Deputy Mayor Paul Jacob

A new $60 million water pipeline project has been completed after the previous system unexpectedly experienced a ruptured pipe four years ago that left Townsville’s water security at risk.

In late 2020 strict water restrictions were placed on the community forbidding residents from showering for days after a pipe burst decades before expected to fail.

The state government provided $33 million to the Ross River Dam to Douglas water treatment plant pipeline project, that assisted the Townsville City council fund the project.

Two years on and the 10 kilometre pipeline project has now been completed.

The Minister for Regional Development, Manufacturing and Minister for Water Glenn Butcher said he was confident this pipeline would stand the test of time.

“The access through the treatment plant here is out of the way from future encroachment of any housing development or road development,” he said.

Douglas Water Treatment Plant pipeline duplication. Picture: Townsville City Council

“We’re very confident this pipe work will continue to deliver water to the water treatment facility for the community for many, many, many years to come.”

“When we build these types of things, the design of it is to cater for the future growth in the region but also these things are designed at the highest level of security, so these things don’t rupture.”

The Member for Thuringowa Aaron Harper said that it had been an 18-month construction.

“Everyone remembers in 2020, our city was plunged into crisis with a section of that pipe ruptured and we had water restrictions placed on us that we needed to get on making sure that we got water security for our city,” Mr Harper said.

“We know that approximately 115 to 130 million litres of water is pumped daily out to the community so that’s critical to have that pipeline in place.”

Townsville City Council Deputy Mayor Paul Jacob said that this new pipeline is a strong investment in Council’s core services.

“This project started in 2021, with the first year completing design and securing approvals and a further two years to construct – the final piece is completing revegetation works to rehabilitate the areas affected by the pipeline construction,” he said.

Originally published as Ross River Dam to Douglas Water Treatment Plant pipeline project completed