$2.9 million Budget boost for Burdekin Shire water infrastructure

Burdekin Shire Council is helping secure the future of water supply of Home Hill with funding allocated in the 2019/20 Budget for the construction of a five megalitre storage reservoir.

Mayor Lyn McLaughlin said the $3.3 million project, which will be constructed over two years near the existing Home Hill Water Tower, will deliver a twelve-fold increase in water storage capacity and improve the resilience of the local community.

“As our Shire is located in a disaster-prone area, Council is continuously looking at ways to improve our capacity to endure and recover from natural disasters,” Cr McLaughlin said.

“This five megalitre storage reservoir will increase our off-line water supply capacity from four hours to more than 40 hours, enabling us to ensure continuity of supply through and following disasters or other unplanned events.”

Council received nearly $2 million from the Queensland Government through the 2019-21 Local Government Grants and Subsidies Program.

Water security in Home Hill will further benefit from the 2019/20 Budget, with Council allocating $150,000 funding for Stage 2 of the Production Bore Pump Replacement Program.

Five pumps at the Home Hill Water Tower borefield site will be upgraded to submersible pumps in the first year of the ongoing program.

“In addition to being more resilient than the current end-of-life pumps, the new pumps will also generate less noise which is a win for nearby residents.”

Council will also begin the transition to smart water meters in the 2019/20 financial year, allocating $200,000 towards the first year of the ongoing program.

Cr McLaughlin said the new technology meters had many benefits over traditional water meters.

“Not only do these water meters have fewer moving parts which will increase reliability, they can also be read remotely which will allow a quicker response by Council officers and enable residents to have a greater ability to monitor their own water use.”