Pipeline revegetation project provides training opportunity

Townsville City Council’s revegetation of the corridor used for the Haughton pipeline duplication is also providing an opportunity for First Nations people to learn new skills.

Council has engaged Revegetation Contractors and Woongal Environmental Services to revegetate the environment around the pipeline corridor, with seven First Nations people receiving formal training and field experience while completing the work.

Townsville Water and Waste Committee chairperson Russ Cook said the project was a great outcome for the environment and those receiving the training.

“This work will allow us to rehabilitate the environment surrounding the new pipeline and involves the planting of more than 12,000 tube plants around the water courses and other habitat locations,” Cr Cook said.

“This is the type of rewarding opportunities that have come from Council being able to deliver the pipeline through smaller tenders – allowing local businesses the chance to employ and train new staff.

“I hope the skills and knowledge this group of trainees receive sets them up for a rewarding career.”

Woongal Environmental Services Managing Director Bill Haylock said that the company provides environmental monitoring and management by teaming experts with local First Nations people.

“We provide our services by teaming our environmental scientists with First Nations people in a way that recognises the value of the knowledge of First Nations people about the local environment and the science-based skills of our environmental scientists and managers,” Mr Haylock said.

“We’re very excited to be engaging and working with First Nations people on this project.”

Stage 1 of the Haughton pipeline project was completed last year. Two thousand, seven hundred and sixty-three (2763) individual lengths of 1.8 metre diameter pipe spanning 33 kilometres were laid between the Haughton pump station and Ross River Dam. The project, costing $215 million, was funded by the Queensland Government.