Three localities need $13m water upgrades

STUDIES of three Toowoomba Regional Council localities revealed water networks are in need of upgrades worth more than $13 million.

An investigation into the Cecil Plains water supply probed whether the network had the ability to cope with future growth.

The town of Cecil Plains was not expected to experience high population growth in the future, but was considered important because of productivity gains, Cr Nancy Sommerfield said.

The study revealed parts of the network experience pressures below the minimum requirement.

A shortfall in the quantity of water available for fire-protection was evident in the industrial area to the south west of town and near the school. Also a significant part of the network fell below the minimum chlorine residual requirements.

The council is planning to augment supply by installing a dedicated water main and installing booster pumps.

The cost of the works was estimated to be $578,000, which translates to a cost of $121 per connection per year over a 30 year period.

The council also probed the Greater Drayton sewerage catchment, which includes 60 % of the West Creek catchment.

There are nine pump stations in the catchment and previous studies showed five pump stations should be decommissioned and replaced with two pump stations.

The new report showed four should be decommissioned and replaced. Those and other works will cost $12,402,000 over decades.

A study into Millmerran’s water supply showed works were needed for a new pressure zone in the south-east industrial area and the construction of new mains to improve fire-fighting capabilities at a cost of $291,000.