DEAL OR NO DEAL?

IN December 2016, the first ever Australian City Deal was signed by all three tiers of government, promising a 15- year nonpartisan collaboration for critical infrastructure projects in Townsville.

The commitment is for intergovernmental action and funding to support more liveable urban environments, prosperity and community wellbeing. This policy acknowledged the need to avoid the delays in three- year revolving door election terms. Throwing out any previous government’s baby with the new party’s bath water can result in already approved plans being shelved, and a start- again approach.

City Deal’s Water Taskforce chairman, Brad Webb, delivered an Interim Report on June 30. The State Government ( as per the previous state to council policy process) allocated $ 225 million in the 2017 budget for a second pipeline. Their claim is that this will provide FULL long- term water security, even though the taskforce recommended a further second stage for installation. Funding only the first stage begs the question – why the need for a second stage? The WFTAG view is that Townsville’s long- term water security should see an 80- year guaranteed supply that is practical, timely, affordable, sustainable and durable.

We need to remind ourselves that the optimum level for pumping from the Burdekin is when Ross Dam drops to 15 per cent. Here’s why. Except for one deeper section where that 15 per cent collects, the remaining sections of RRD are very shallow, resulting in very high evaporation. Basically, to pump earlier would be paying for very expensive steam. The dam cannot be deepened. There is no other suitable location for a new dam, and we already have three dams nearby. The cost and time to construct any new dam is not going to solve Townsville’s urgent water needs. Only the Burdekin supply can do this. The dam and catchment are enormous and there is no need, at this stage, to raise the wall. Raising the wall would mean further costs, a monster loan with interest to repay and unimaginable time delays.

The task force’s second wider pipeline will follow the original route from the Haughton pump station to Ross Dam. This will provide critical backup that we currently do not have, and supply up to 234 ML per day. The wider 1800mm outer diameter means better flow and cheaper pumping costs. The Government claim about full security could only apply if both the old and new pipelines are pumped simultaneously i. e., 130 ML ( old) plus 234 ML ( new) = 364 ML per day. We can’t even imagine what that would cost if powered only by the current Ergon grid; so we will have a 234 ML maximum per day and ongoing water restrictions in the meantime.

There are other reasons the pipes should not pump simultaneously. That comes down to simple maths. Our current potable water supply comes from three sources – Paluma Dam 40ML per day, rain into Ross Dam with unpredictable annual totals, supplemented by Burdekin water through the original Haughton pipeline – up to 130ML per day. That’s 170ML per day. Where does this supply go? Townsville uses 100ML per day on level 3 restrictions. We lose 40ML per day to evaporation and seepage, and up to 25ML per day to leakage in the local reticulation infrastructure. That leaves a 5ML gain per day which ends the argument that the pumps should be going 24/ 7/ 365. It also means level 3 restrictions must continue while pumping using the original line.

How should this change with a second pipeline? Pumping 234ML per day and staying on level 3 restrictions would see a 109ML per day gain. We know that would evaporate if the dam goes above 15 per cent so it would make sense to ease the restrictions to level 2 with the pumped supply being distributed to Townsville residents.

The State Government allocation of $ 225 million should see the first stage installed by mid- 2019 as per Mr Webb’s report. The best outcome will be if stage two, which extends the pipeline to Clare with access to solar power, can begin at the same time or soon after. Doing so would fast- track the upgrading of the Clare pump station, and connection to a new water treatment plant at Toonpan behind Ross Dam. That will be essential as the second stage would bring the daily pumped supply to 364ML – our existing treatment plant can process only 236 ML per day. If the Burdekin water is not treated we cannot drink it. The Federal Government should now contribute – under the City Deal agreement – an equal amount for stage two of the taskforce recommendation and to assist with the treatment plant. The Federal Opposition has already committed $ 100 million if elected. The publicised glitch of not being able to construct the pipes locally might add an extra $ 18 million to the stage one project due to freight.

WFTAG has always advocated an unstaged infrastructure with a different pipeline route. This will be detailed in the next article comparing the pros and cons of the taskforce recommendation with WFTAG’s. This suggests the solution on the table is not the only one.

It is essential, once the State Government is formed, that all of our elected and re- elected state MPs keep their focus on Townsville’s TOP infrastructure priority. Council and the Premier, as City Deal cosignatories, are our best chance of pressuring the Federal Government for the best, not quickest- cheapest option – again. There should NOT even be the need to “pressure” the policy initiator to make a fair contribution. Clearly there is. Two federal MPs ( Cathy O’Toole ALP Member for Herbert, and George Christensen LNP Member for Dawson) are also critical to advancing our cause. Both have already commenced this process by speaking in parliament about Townsville’s urgent need for the necessary infrastructure.