Update on Townsville City Council key infrastructure projects
Townsville City Council is pressing ahead to deliver several key projects despite the challenges. Here’s an overview of the timelines, costs, employment numbers, and future outlooks.
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Despite numerous challenges including Covid, unseasonal wet weather and global events impacting labour supply, rising costs and supply chain issues, Townsville City Council continues to deliver hundreds of capital projects to grow the city.
Over the past financial year, more than 500 projects have been completed to improve parks and open spaces, roads and transport, drains, stormwater, fleet, IT, building, water, wastewater, and waste projects across the city.
During their first meetings for the year, TCC’s various committees have convened to provide progress updates on some of Townsville’s key projects, including how much they were worth, how many workers they employed, timelines, and what would happen next.
Haughton Pipeline Project – Stage 2
Investment: $274m
Funding: Queensland Government ($195m) and TCC ($79m)
Jobs: 300
Construction: May 2023-2025
Completed: Finalisation – testing commissioning, handover in 2025.
Overview:
Townsville’s growing population is putting pressure on existing water infrastructure.
The Haughton Pipeline project is expected to address this demand and provide enough water capacity for Townsville for at least the next 50 years.
Stage 2 of the Haughton Pipeline Project extends the existing 1.8m diameter Stage 1 pipeline from the Haughton River to the Burdekin River in the vicinity of Clare.
The second stage is a greenfield site, covering approximately 30km.
When complete, the water pipeline will provide greater capacity to provide up to 364 megalitres per day of raw water into the Ross River Dam to augment or “top up” water levels during periods of very low rainfall.
Key activities last month:
– Pipe install tender process continued
– Steel pipe continues to arrive in Townsville
– Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation public notice period started
– Pump station design continued
– Pump Station Construction tender process continued
– Department of Resources permit to occupy offer received
Upcoming key activities:
– End of Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation public notice period
– Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation decision expected
– Pipe install tender process to continue
– Pump Station construction tender process to continue
Riverway Library
Investment: $8.5m
Funding: TCC
Jobs: 12
Timeline: Construction 2021 – 2023.
Complete: Mid April 2023.
Overview:
Work is continuing on the construction of a new state-of-the-art library at the Riverway community precinct, which will replace the Thuringowa Library.
Along with the library, the council is also refurbishing the Ecoactive Centre near the children’s playground.
The multimillion-dollar project will be funded across two financial years.
Once complete, it will combine with the Pinnacles Art Gallery and outside amenities including free public swimming pool to establish the Riverway precinct’s reputation as Townsville’s premier community space.
Key activities last month:
– Civil works to drop-off zone commenced
– Joinery installations commenced
– Floor finishes installation commenced
– Cafe in-ground hydraulic services installed
– Continued progress with ceilings, partitions and electrical services
Upcoming key activities:
– Commence external landscaping works
– Commence cafe tenancy partitions
– Continue building activities
Douglas Water Treatment Plant Water Clarifiers – Module 3 and 4
Investment: $30 million
Funding: TCC
Jobs: 40
Timeline: Construction 2021-2023
Complete: Mod 3 – March 2023. Mod 4 May – 2023
Overview:
Construction of two new water clarifiers at the Douglas Water Treatment Plant is underway, enhancing the facility’s capacity to produce clean, healthy drinking water for our growing city.
The new infrastructure will provide the capacity to treat 950L/s of raw water through Module 3 Clarifier and 1100L/s of raw water through Module 4 Clarifier.
It addresses the unexpected interruptions to water delivery experienced in late 2020 and early 2021.
The clarifiers were expected to be completed in early 2023.
Key activities last month:
– Mod3 clarifier in operation by Trility
– Mod4 electrical and mechanical fit out 90 per cent complete
Upcoming key activities:
– Wet and dry commissioning of Mod4 clarifier
– Road upgrade works
– Proof of performance period of Mod4 clarifier
Castle Hill Summit Track Handrail Renewal
Investment: $1.74m
Funding: Queensland Government’s Works for Queensland program in association with TCC.
Jobs: Not specified
Timeline: Construction November 2022 – March 2023.
Complete: Finalisation 2023
Overview:
The handrails along three Castle Hill summit tracks were identified as being at the end of their useful life.
The existing handrails will be removed, and new handrails will be installed so the community can safely enjoy these popular and scenic walking tracks.
The renewal of the Castle Hill Summit Track handrails and infrastructure will ensure the popular Castle Hill walking tracks and lookouts remain well maintained for the local community and visitors to safely enjoy, while encouraging active recreation and the utilisation and enjoyment of our natural environment.
Key activities last month:
– Stage 1 core holes completed; post installation underway
– Second helicopter lift completed
– Stage 2 core holes commenced
– There was public tampering and theft to the main static line. Contractor was required to re-set line and test prior to works recommencing
Upcoming key activities:
– Stage 1 works to be completed mid-February 2023
– Third and final helicopter February 23 2023
– Stage 2 works underway. Aiming to complete end of March 2023
Wulguru Pump Station
Stage three of the Southern Suburbs Rising Main Project
Value: $20m for stage three ($13m in 2021/22 and $7m in 2022/23)
Funding: TCC and $5m from the Queensland Government’s Building Our Regions program
Jobs: 20-30 for stage three
Timeline: Finalisation 2023 (after testing, commissioning, handover)
Overview:
Works involved the delivery of a new wastewater pump station and associated infrastructure constructed adjacent to University Road with the aim of significantly reducing the pressure experienced by the wastewater system during the wet season and cater for the population growth of the southern parts of our city.
Stage three included the completion of the construction of the gravity main and pressure main in Wulguru and with the construction of the new pump station almost complete after recently reaching a milestone with the completion of the concrete structures including the pump well, manholes, valve chamber and flow meter chamber.
Key activities last month:
– 98 per cent construction activities complete
– Commissioning completed and pumps online
Upcoming key activities:
– Complete construction of boundary fence and landscaping
– Decommissioning of the existing pump station SA7
– Provision of handover documentation
Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct
No-Name Road access road
Located within the suburb of Calcium, the council-led Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct (LEIP) aims to become Northern Australia’s foremost precinct for advanced manufacturing, processing, technology and emerging industries.
Queensland Pacific Metals (QPM), Edify, RTE Energy, Solquartz, Origin Energy Future Fuels and North Queensland Gas Pipeline, have signed on to operate at the precinct.
Construction of the 16.25km of raw water pipeline to the Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct will allow early proponents access to raw water by December 2024.
The state and federal governments have contributed $74m to build the vital enabling infrastructure.
To support construction works within the precinct, council has awarded the tender for construction of ‘No-Name Road access road’ to local company BMD Constructions.
Works are scheduled to commence from late November 2022 and are expected to be completed in early 2023, weather and conditions permitting.
The project will involve:
– Upgrading the intersection of Jones Road and No-Name Road (approx. 1 km west of the existing junction of Jones Road and Woodstock Ave)
– Formation and construction of No-Name Road running south from Jones Road.
Key activities last month:
– Enabling Infrastructure Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation team formed to prepare preliminary documentation
– Designs for roads and water continue
– Pipe supply tender awarded to Iplex Pipelines Australia
– Pipe installation tender advertised
– Land acquisitions – survey and legal works commenced
Upcoming key activities:
– Pavement installation on No Name Road continues
– Designs for roads and water continue
– Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation preliminary documentation response continues
Cleveland Bay Recycled Water Treatment Facility and Pipeline Project
Value: $25m
Funding: TCC budgeted over two years
Jobs: 30
Timeline: Planning 2021-2023, Construction complete by end of 2023.
Overview:
The Townsville Water Security Taskforce identified an opportunity to expand Townsville’s water availability by treating water from the Cleveland Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant.
This would produce up to 15ML/day of economically viable non-potable water to irrigate parks, golf courses, James Cook University, the new North Queensland Stadium, large industrial users and green hydrogen production operations.
This would attract and secure future industry and jobs for Townsville.
Activity began in November 2022 with earthmoving equipment mobilised to install approximately 9km of supporting pipeline infrastructure adjacent to the Townsville Port Access Road.
Key activities last month:
– Continuation of design developmentactivities for the recycled water treatment facility
– Pipeline installation works have progressed along Port Access Road towards Heleen Downs Road, though hampered by weather.
Upcoming key activities:
– 80 per cent design documentation review continues
– Continuation of pipeline installation works along Port Access Road from Heleen Downs Road towards Bruce Highway.
Northern Beaches Leisure Centre 50m Pool Replacement
Value: $5m
Funding: Fully funded by the Queensland Government’s Works for Queensland program
Jobs: 15
Timeline: Completed February 10
Overview:
Originally constructed in 2008, the pool at the Northern Beaches Leisure Centre reached the end of its useful life last year.
Upgrades include a replacement of the existing 50m pool, shade sails and chlorine tank, installing new pool covers and new backwash tank, resealing the floor surface and repainting.
A new concrete pool has been designed to meet regional competition standards to be able to host local, regional and state swimming titles, supporting the next generation of local swimming talent and creating economic opportunities for the Townsville region.
Ross River Dam to Douglas Water Treatment Plant Pipeline Duplication
Investment: $60m
Funding: TCC
Jobs: 150
Timeline: Construction 2022 – 2023. Package 1 and Package 2 Commenced 2022
Completed: 2023-2024 (after testing, cutovers commissioning, handover)
Overview:
The existing pipeline, providing approximately 85 per cent of the city’s water, runs adjacent to Riverway Drive and crosses Ross River just prior to the treatment plant.
It experienced an unexpected failure in December resulting in a temporary disruption to water supply.
Construction has commenced on the 9.5km duplicate pipeline which will cross Ross River closer to the dam and run parallel to the river through the Department of Defence’s Mount Stuart Training Area before connecting to the Douglas Water Treatment Plant.
The duplication will increase the resilience of the key asset and enhance Townsville’s water security.
Key activities last month:
– Approximately 1.453 km of pipeline installed on Packages 1 (850m) and Package 2 (600m)
– Approximately 85 per cent of the Ross River Crossing complete. Dam release has ceased works on package 1.
– Flowmeter pit constructed at Ross Park and fit-out underway
Upcoming key activities:
– Pipeline installation continuing with focus on package 2 beside the river.
Originally published as Update on Townsville City Council key infrastructure projects
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