Council awards pipeline contract

THE detailed design of the second stage of Townsville’s new water supply pipeline is set to begin after a tender was awarded to engineering group GHD.

Townsville City Council, which is developing the Haughton pipeline project with money from the state government, selected GHD from two other tenders in a confidential meeting last week.

The council had invited tenders for principal consultancy services to develop design documents, investigate, prepare and lodge planning and environmental approval applications, provide engineering support through construction and commission and certify the whole and complete water transfer pipeline system, including stage 1.

The tender to GHD was awarded for $6.1m.

Acting Mayor Mark Molachino said the awarding of this tender meant the council could get started on stage 2 as soon as possible.

“With continued funding from the state government, council has been able to award the tender for the design of stage 2 to get the project moving,” Cr Molachino said.

“GHD has been awarded the contract due to the value for money their tender represented and their demonstrated capability to deliver such a major project.

“Council intends to break the delivery of stage 2 of the pipeline into small, manageable work packages to ensure that local contractors have an opportunity to share in the work during the construction phase.”

Townsville Water and Waste Committee chair Russ Cook said the work to connect stage 1 of the pipeline to stage 2 was continuing.

“The work to extend stage 1 of the pipeline under the Haughton (River) is ongoing and making good progress and we’re looking to be ready to commence construction of stage 2 late next year,” Cr Cook said. “Council has also begun project consultation with the relevant stakeholders to ensure we are able to hit start as soon as we possibly can.”

The state government committed $195m to the delivery of stage 2 after the federal government, which initially promised the funds, would not budge on calls to ensure its grant was not included in GST calculations.

According to the council meeting summary, a grant deed was executed with the state government on September 30 and the council had access to the first instalment payment of $7.5m, allowing stage 2 to start. This will see the existing pipeline extended from the Haughton River to the Burdekin River near Clare.

It will include around 33km of pipe and the construction of a new pump station and high voltage power infrastructure.