General News
16 December, 2024
Water security paramount
The water landscape is undergoing massive changes, with some local towns now in the process of becoming connected to Toowoomba’s water supply and other towns to benefit from plans for a new water treatment plant.
Queensland Minister for Local Government and Water, Ann Leahy, along with a strong contingent of Councillors including Mayor Geoff McDonald and Deputy Mayor Rebecca Vonhoff came to Greenmount for a ceremony to turn the first sod for the Four Communities Water Supply Project and Southern Water Treatment Plant.
The importance of these long awaited projects to supply treated water for Clifton, Nobby, Greenmount and Cambooya was evident by the large roll up of political leaders from state and local governments.
At the sod turning, it was announced the Toowoomba Regional Council is planning to build a new water treatment plant in the Westbrook area that has the potential to unlock 33,000 lots for development and diversify industry.
Mayor Geoff McDonald summed up the importance of the projects by claiming they were the foundation for future growth in the four towns.
Minister Ann Leahy, said the Queensland Government’s investment in the project would improve water security and essential services for the local communities into the future.
Deputy Mayor and Councillor for Strategic Water Planning and Capital Delivery Cr Rebecca Vonhoff said the Four Communities project involved design and construction of a new water treatment plant in Greenmount and new treated water pipelines from the existing Haldon Street reservoir to supply water to the four towns.
“This project will provide those towns with safe and secure drinking water via the Toowoomba Bulk Water Supply Scheme,” she said.
“The treated water pipeline will be constructed in stages, with work starting on the Greenmount to Cambooya pipeline in early October.
“The second stage will connect Greenmount to Nobby with the third stage, Nobby to Clifton, expected to be completed in 2027.”
The Greenmount Water Treatment Plant construction is expected to start in 2025 and be completed in early 2027, aligned with completion of the Toowoomba to Warwick Pipeline, construction and weather conditions permitting.
“Water security is a top priority for Council and this project will help to give those communities the certainty and opportunities that come with having a permanent treated water supply,” Cr Vonhoff said.
“Council expects the project will act as a catalyst for further development in the four communities.”
Cr Vonhoff said preliminary planning for the project had begun with the concept design stage to get underway in line with future growth projections.
“The new water treatment plant will allow the population to grow to the South and West of Toowoomba.
“It also reduces risk instead of us having all our eggs in one basket with Mt Kynoch.
“The proposed water treatment plant will supply water to the Southern and Western areas of the Toowoomba Region and will free up capacity in the Toowoomba bulk network and defer the need to further upgrade the Mt Kynoch Water treatment Plant,” Cr Vonhoff said.
“The water treatment plant will be supplied by an off-take from the Toowoomba to Warwick pipeline in the Westbrook area.
“This represents Council’s strong investment in the region’s water infrastructure – an investment that will boost water security, cater for population growth and allow further diversification of industry and business in the southern part of our region.”
