The City of Townsville has achieved a number of recent milestones on the second stage of its Haughton Pipeline project.
Townsville Mayor, Jenny Hill, said Council had a team managing the project, which was being funded by the Queensland Government.
Ms Hill said Council had also engaged a number of specialist external consultants to undertake front-end engineering and design principles addressing pipe alignment, materials and pump station requirements.
“Detailed capital and operational costs continue to be validated against independent cost estimates prior to making a recommendation to Council,” Ms Hill said.
“Private and commercial landowners have been consulted on the options for the pipe alignment and three landowner access agreements have already been agreed.
“The project team has also engaged with the traditional custodians of the land along the proposed pipe alignment options and entered into a Cultural Heritage Management Agreement.
“After a series of information sessions and tender briefings in Townsville and Ayr during 2020, five local construction contractors have been appointed to participate in an interactive tender process to assist with project design and costings.
“Suppliers and manufacturers of long lead materials and equipment have also been engaged to participate in the tender process for pipes, pumps and fittings supplies.”
Member for Townsville, Scott Stewart, said providing funding for water security for the city was essential.
“The State Government has invested more than $400 million in stages one and two of the Haughton Pipeline because we know it will set Townsville up for the future,” Mr Stewart said.
“I’m excited about the opportunities that are out there for Townsville’s economy moving forward and that’s what this government is focused on.”
MsHill said stage one of the Haughton Pipeline project had provided a tremendous boost to the local economy, with around 95 per cent of the construction work delivered by locally-based contractors.
“We want to repeat that with stage two. That’s why Council will package the works into smaller parcels of work to give local businesses the opportunity to tender for it,” Ms Hill said.
