Urraween pump station upgrade

Almost $4 million will be pumped into new pumping equipment to improve the efficiency and performance of the water supply system to Hervey Bay.

“The work includes upgrading existing pumps and pipework and additional systems at the Urraween Reservoir site to cater for growth,” Fraser Coast Regional Councillor David Lee said.

“It will also save us money in the long-term by cutting out electricity costs.

“The new booster pumps will enable us to use available pressure in the existing trunk water supply system from the Takura Reservoir to transfer water directly to the Ghost Hill Reservoirs, thereby cutting power costs.

“There will also be a bypass to allow flow from Takura Reservoir to Ghost Hill Reservoir by gravity during low demand periods.

“Other works include the replacement of the chlorine storage and dosing facility which will improve the reliability and efficiency as well as increase the capacity of the disinfection system.”

The existing reservoir pump station, disinfection facility and emergency pump station for the Hervey Bay and St Stephens hospitals at the site will continue to operate until the new systems are successfully tested and brought into operation.

The $3.75 million contract awarded to Fewster Brothers Contracting Pty Ltd is part of a multi-million-dollar upgrade of the system supplying water to Hervey Bay and surrounds.

“Councill allocated $1 million to replace the 30-year-old polyethylene liner and floating cover of the 36-megalitre Urraween reservoir last year and $1.1 million to replace the 46-year old roof of the Ghost Hill Number Two water reservoir,” Cr Lee said.

“This year Council allocated $4.6 million to duplicate a 4.8km water main from the Burgowan water treatment plant to reservoirs at Takura to improve the reliability of water supply to Hervey Bay and surrounding areas.”

In the budget adopted last week, Council allocated $37.1 million for water, waste and sewerage capital works projects in 2021/22.