November 17, 2022
Toowoomba Regional Council has given its support to the State Government’s proposed Toowoomba and Warwick Pipeline project, subject to conditions.
Mayor Paul Antonio said Council acknowledged the need for Southern Downs to have water security but its main priority was to the residents of the Toowoomba region.
“Our focus has to be for our residents and the long-term water security needs for our community,” Mayor Antonio said.
“This is why we requested and met with State Government representatives on a number of occasions to express the key objectives we need to be satisfied with, before giving our support to the project.
“Some of these objectives included the relocation and increased capacity of the Wivenhoe Pump Station; enlarging the pipe to connect with our southern towns (Cambooya, Greenmount, Nobby and Clifton) and ensuring our ratepayers won’t be subsidising the supply of water to the Southern Downs Regional Council.”
The State Government welcomed the Toowoomba and Southern Downs councils voting in favour of the more than $300 million project.
Water Minister Glenn Butcher said pre-construction works would begin, as promised, before Christmas.
“We’re thrilled that Toowoomba and Southern Downs have supported this project and – subject to some final negotiations – we are now in a position to meet our commitment to get this project underway and on track for scheduled completion by the end of 2026,” he said.
“Construction of this pipeline is critical to providing improved water security for the residents of Southern Downs Regional Council as well as delivering approximately 420 jobs to the Toowoomba and Southern Downs communities during construction.”
The pipeline will carry raw water from Wivenhoe Dam and connect with Toowoomba Regional Council’s existing water infrastructure to deliver water to Warwick.
Seqwater has developed detailed designs for the pipeline and is working with stakeholders in preparing to move into the pre-construction phase of the pipeline, including discussion with landholders.
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