TRC replaces 1.3km section of Perseverance raw water main

Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) is completing the latest stage of vital renewal works on the Perseverance raw water main north of Toowoomba.

TRC Water and Waste Committee chair Cr Nancy Sommerfield said Council was finalising work on replacing a 1.3km section of the Perseverance raw water main near Geham.

“Council has contributed $8 million in the current financial year for the ongoing replacement of ageing sections of the pipeline,” Cr Sommerfield said.

“The overall project involves replacing the 28km pre-stressed concrete water main from the Pechey reservoirs to the Mt Kynoch Water Treatment Plant. This work has been scheduled in the cooler, off-demand months and will be completed over several years.

“The existing pipeline was constructed in the early 1960s and due to its age, there have been more frequent pipe joint failures in recent years.

“Coupled with inspections that have revealed unfavourable reports on the pipe’s overall condition, Council has planned and funded the renewal work.

“This highlights the reality facing local governments across the state. Council is balancing the provision of new infrastructure with the costs of essential and ongoing maintenance for existing assets across our growing region.

“Council’s current Budget places a major focus on renewing water and wastewater infrastructure across the region, including the Perseverance raw water main.

“Council’s Construction and Maintenance workforce is replacing the original main with a slightly larger, coated-steel pipe that comes in 13.5m lengths.

“This project will guarantee the security of the Toowoomba Bulk Water Supply network that delivers safe drinking water supplies to more than 54,000 properties. (The network supplies drinking water for Toowoomba and surrounding towns of Oakey, Jondaryan, Highfields, Crows Nest, Kingsthorpe, Gowrie Junction, Meringandan, Wyreema, Westbrook, Hodgson Vale and Goombungee.)

“I’m pleased to see work is almost finished on the latest section of the project to increase the reliability of the water main and ensure we can pipe water from the Pechey reservoirs to the Mt Kynoch Water Treatment Plant.

“The current work closely follows the alignment of the original pipeline and will improve the inter-connection of the Perseverance and Cressbrook raw water supply pipelines.”