‘Serious damage’: Repairs begin on destroyed Paluma pipeline, medium-level water restrictions remain

Repair work has begun on the destroyed Paluma pipeline. Normally supplying 15 per cent of Townsville’s water, the pipeline has been cut off since February 13 due to massive landslides.

Landslide debris has been blocking access to the broken section of the Paluma pipeline, near Big Crystal Creek.

Repair work has begun on the broken Paluma pipeline after almost 6000 tonnes of landslide debris was cleared off the mountain, helping construction crews gain access.

Normally the Paluma pipeline supplies 15 per cent of Townsville’s daily water needs, transporting water from Paluma Dam down to the Northern Water Treatment Plant, which sits on a hill near the Bruce Hwy just outside Rollingstone.

On February 13, 2025, during the massive rain event, the pipeline failed and council have since identified a damaged section located about 400 metres from the Crystal Creek Bulk Water Supply Intake Structure as the culprit.

Acting Townsville mayor Ann-Maree Greaney said medium-level water restrictions will remain in placeuntil the pipeline can be restored.

The Paluma pipeline roughly follows a path from the Bruce Hwy, to the Big Crystal Ck camping area, and follows the banks of Big Crystal Ck up to the intake structure below Crystal Falls.

“The pipeline supplying water from Paluma sustained serious damage during the record-breaking weather event earlier this year,” Mayor Greaney said.

Mayor Greaney said contractor CivilPlus has removed 5900 tonnes of debris just to get up 7kms of access track to the damaged section of the pipe.

Landslide debris has been blocking access to the broken section of the Paluma pipeline, near Big Crystal Creek.

“It’s been a big job,” she said.

“The scale of the landslides was enormous, in one section there was debris piled up more than five metres high over the road.”

Mayor Greaney said now that the access track was clear, crews will shift their focus to getting the condition of the road to a state where heavy vehicles can reach the pipeline.

The massive earthmoving works are being jointly funded by the Federal Government and the State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

Now that the wet season is over, Townsville’s water use has been steadily rising from 90ML a day in March, to 120ML a day this week (May).

Townsville’s sole remaining water treatment plant, the Douglas plant, has the capacity to provide 232ML of drinking water a day to the city, but councillors are reminding residents to practice medium-level water restrictions.

Councillor Paul Jacobs said the Paluma pipeline is normally critical for Townsville as it serves as a backup if anything goes wrong with Ross River Dam or the Douglas plant.

“People might think that because the dam is full it’s a free for all, but our water storage isn’t what is keeping us on restrictions,” Councillor Jacobs said.

“It’s actually our ability to treat and provide safe drinking water.”

Pending weather, Townsville City Council expects the Paluma pipeline to be working by June 30.

Medium-level water restrictions include:

• Sprinkler use: 5–7am or 6–8pm on odds-and-evens days

• Handheld watering anytime

• Vehicle and boat washing with a bucket

• Hard surface cleaning with pressure washers only

Originally published as ‘Serious damage’: Repairs begin on destroyed Paluma pipeline, medium-level water restrictions remain