$4m funding for Urraween pump station upgrades

Hervey Bay will benefit from nearly $4 million in funding for new pumping equipment – aiming to improve the efficiency and performance of the community’s water supply system. 

The $3.75 million contract awarded to Fewster Brothers Contracting is part of a multi-million-dollar upgrade of the system supplying water to Hervey Bay and surrounds, based in the suburb of Urraween. 

The existing reservoir pump station, disinfection facility and emergency pump station for the Hervey Bay and St Stephens hospitals, at the site, will continue to operate until the new systems are successfully tested and brought into operation.

Fraser Coast Regional Councillor David Lee said, “The work includes upgrading existing pumps and pipework and additional systems at the Urraween Reservoir site to cater for growth.

“It will also save us money in the long term by cutting out electricity costs.

“The new booster pumps will enable us to use available pressure in the existing trunk water supply system from the Takura Reservoir to transfer water directly to the Ghost Hill Reservoirs, thereby cutting power costs.

“There will also be a bypass to allow flow from Takura Reservoir to Ghost Hill Reservoir by gravity during low demand periods,” Mr Lee said. 

Mr Lee said that other works include the replacement of the chlorine storage and dosing facility which will improve reliability and efficiency, as well as increase capacity of the disinfection system. 

“Councill allocated $1 million to replace the 30-year-old polyethylene liner and floating cover of the 36-megalitre Urraween reservoir last year and $1.1 million to replace the 46-year-old roof of the Ghost Hill Number Two water reservoir,” Mr Lee said. 

“This year Council allocated $4.6 million to duplicate a 4.8km water main from the Burgowan water treatment plant to reservoirs at Takura to improve the reliability of water supply to Hervey Bay and surrounding areas.”

In the recent Budget, Council allocated $37.1 million for water, waste and sewerage capital works projects in 2021/22.

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