Changes to water zone laid out in new report

THE Toowoomba Regional Council has voted to spend more than $110,000 over the next 40 years to fix issues in one of the city’s water pressure zones.

The councillors voted yesterday at a committee meeting to endorse proposed changes to the Horners pressure zone, which is located south of the Toowoomba CBD and includes aspects of South Toowoomba, East Toowoomba, Centenary Heights, Rangeville and Toowoomba City.

The augmentations were laid out in a report, which found that while the reservoir had sufficient capacity to handle expected population growth until 2061, the council would need to invest nearly $115,000 in infrastructure and make changes to pressure.

“The study found that there is generally sufficient capacity to cater for the future anticipated growth,” the report by engineer network planning principal Paul Quinlan said.

“Some minor augmentations are proposed totalling $114,500 to resolve deficiencies within the network.

“Widespread areas of excessive maximum pressure during average day demand were identified in the network.

“The entire northern section of the zone (beyond James St) suffers excessive pressure, with this extending south of James St along East Creek and West Creek areas.”

Changes to the current zone included installing new water mains and isolation valves.

Water and waste general manager Damian Platts said certain hydrants within the pressure zones would also be decommissioned due to low residual pressure, in consultation with the QFES.