Final pipe laid for Mount Morgan Pipeline Project

Mount Morgan locals are rejoicing after the final pipe was laid for the pipeline project, following years of drought measures on the community.

Rockhampton Regional Council Cr Cherie Rutherford, Mayor Tony Williams and Federal Minister for the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek sign the final piece of pipe for the The Mount Morgan Pipeline Project.

Mount Morgan residents are breathing a sigh of relief after the final pipe for the Mount Morgan Pipeline Project was laid on Tuesday, April 8.

Long-time town resident Leonie Lane said the area had been doing it tough since a localised drought put the area on level six water restrictions, which are the harshest of water restrictions.

“It’s an absolutely fantastic day for us,” she said of the final pipe being laid.

The Mount Morgan community, which draws its water supply from nearby No 7 Dam, had been under the level six restrictions since 2021 due to the lack of rainfall landing in the dam’s catchment area.

Federal Minister for the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek was all smiles as she explained the importance of the pipeline.

The situation got so bad that the water levels in the dam fell to below 10 per cent and according to Ms Lane, one could walk across the dam.

With the town unable to draw water from the dam, Rockhampton Regional Council had to truck in potable water for 30 months at the cost of more than $10 million.

Among the water restriction rules that Ms Lane and her fellow Mount Morgan residents had to live by were having to water their gardens by hand and a complete ban on washing their vehicles.

“There were a whole lot of other things we couldn’t do,” Ms Lane said.

“It was quite hard going for those three years of drought.”

Ms Lane said the drought had a severe effect on the town, not only because of the water restrictions, but the fact the No 7 Dam was also a popular tourist area.

“It really affected people being able to come here,” Ms Lane said.

“The dam is a great source of joy and recreation here.”

Though the current water crisis in Mount Morgan hails back to 2021, according to Ms Lane the town has often had water restrictions levelled on it and that reliable water sourcing has always been an issue.

“The town’s run out of water several times,” she said.

The Mount Morgan Pipeline Project, which is set to be completed in its entirety in September this year, means the town will no longer have to rely on No 7 Dam for its water use.

Workmen and stakeholder representatives of the Mount Morgan Pipeline Project.

“It means we’ve got reliable water here when we haven’t had it for a very long time,” Ms Lane said.

The 28km pipeline will transport potable water at high pressure from the pump station at Gracemere.

The final pipe was laid during a ceremony by an official delegation of government officials, including the Federal Environment and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek, Rockhampton Mayor Tony Williams, Cr Edward Oram, Cr Cherie Rutherford and other project stakeholders.

Along with the pipeline, other project works include upgrading the pump station at Old Capricorn Hwy, constructing a new reservoir and new pump station at Lucas Street in Gracemere and building a new pump station and small reservoir at Moonmera, approximately halfway along the pipeline route.

The entire Mount Morgan Pipeline Project will cost $88.2m, with the costs split between the three branches of government, with $30 million coming from the federal government, $40.4 million at a state level and $17.8 million from council.

Ms Plibersek said it was a great day for the Mount Morgan community.

“The community of Mount Morgan have lived with inadequate water for far too long,” she said.

“This project will deliver clean and reliable water for generations to come and means people can continue to call Mount Morgan home.”

Cr Williams was visibly emotional during the ceremony.

“This is a once-in-a-generation project that will change the whole outlook for the Mount Morgan community,” he said.

“For far too long Mount Morgan has been constrained by the limitations of the No 7 Dam.

“That changes with this project and changes for the better.

Rockhampton Regional Mayor Tony Williams was visibly emotional at the small ceremony.

“I want to thank our project partners in the Australian and Queensland governments - this could not have been achieved without their investment and support.”

Though Mount Morgan isn’t out of the woods yet when it comes to its water problems it’s clear that things are looking up.

And perhaps a symbol of the optimism is No 7 Dam itself, which is full enough that people can enjoy the area again.

“It looks like a harbour now,” Ms Lane said.

“Now you go out there, and you’ll find heaps of people out there swimming and going on the water in boats.”

Originally published as Final pipe laid for Mount Morgan Pipeline Project