An update on the Haughton Pipeline project

Despite increased construction costs leading to funding constraints, more than 27km of the 28.2km pipeline has been laid on the Haughton Pipeline, with works continuing into the new year.

The jointly funded Townsville City Council and Queensland Government Haughton Pipeline project is about providing greater long-term water security for Townsville and remains a crucial project to secure the region’s long-term water supply.

No construction project has been immune to rising costs after the COVID pandemic and unfortunately like almost every major project across the state, the forecast price of construction has increased substantially beyond our funding availability.

The tender costs received for the pump station were all significantly over budget, which has resulted in an increase in the forecast cost to complete the project.

Council is continuing to work with State Government departments and is currently conducting a project review to assess how the pump station portion of the project can be delivered considering the impact of funding constraints.

We are working with the State Government to explore lower cost options to secure the water supply for the Townsville region, including exploring alternative design options for future pump station infrastructure.

The current agreed funding for Stage 2 of the pipeline is split $195 million from the Queensland Government and $79 million from Council which was committed in 2021.

That funding is enabling works to continue to complete the majority of stage 2 of the pipeline and investigation works into a lower cost pumping solution.

Stage 2 of the Haughton pipeline will connect and extend the existing Stage 1 pipeline, completed in 2019, from the Haughton River to the Burdekin River near Clare.

When complete the pipeline will provide long-term water security for Townsville by having the ability to top up the Ross River Dam by pumping water from the Burdekin River during periods of very low rainfall.