: News Article

NQ Water Budget Secures Water Supply

05/09/2002

The Board of NQ Water moved to secure the provision of bulk water to Townsville and Thuringowa in its $40m, 2002-2003 budget.

The balanced budget offered great benefits to the community, said NQ Water Chairman Ian Hamilton.
"On top of reducing the risk of anything happening to our water supply, this is a forward looking budget which complements our corporate priorities of community, industry and the environment," said Mr Hamilton.

"NQ Water’s role as a bulk water supplier to Townsville and Thuringowa has been well defined with the recent restructure and we are now, more effectively, able to support those priorities.

"Even with the $70 million dollar restructure taken in account, we still managed to contain rates rises at 2.5 per cent. That is below the CPI, which is 2.8 per cent."

The budget saw a long awaited commitment to major projects which would underwrite anticipated urban and industrial expansion and meet the community’s expectations of responsible management, said Mr Hamilton.
They include:

• $1.15m allocated for the completion of the Mt Jack Pipeline Stage Two and includes the provision of a booster pump station.
• $700,000 for the replacement of the original river crossing from Ross River Dam to Douglas Water Plant, which is a critical component;
• $400,000 to improve the emergency intake from Black Weir to Douglas Water Treatment Plant;
• $300,000 to plan for the Northern Water Treatment Plant which will guarantee equivalent water quality across the Board’s operational area;
• $500,000 for the construction of a distribution main from Mt Louisa Reservoir to supply Kirwan and development south of Mt Louisa;
• $70,000 to improve security measures at Douglas Water Treatment Plant;
• $150,000 to upgrade water supply intake facilities at Lake Paluma;
• $500,000 to provide improved metering of supply to Townsville and Thuringowa City Councils;
• $650,000 for review of water quality management practices in light of impending revisions to Australian Drinking Water Guidelines;
• $495,000 in water allocations fees payable to Sunwater for rights to pump water the Burdekin Dam via the Haughton Channel;
• $40,000 to develop an advanced long-term water balance model to aid in management of water source usage, taking into consideration potential climatic impacts, like the El Nino, and
• $65,000 for upgrades to Douglas Water Treatment Plant.

© 2004 NQ Water