An almost $26 million joint investment from the Federal and Queensland governments will support key improvements to Cherbourg’s water infrastructure.
A more sustainable, secure and safe drinking water supply is on the way for the 1800 residents of Cherbourg, with Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council to receive a major upgrade to water supply infrastructure and services.
The almost $26 million project is supported by $12.8 million in matched funding from the Queensland and the Federal governments through the National Water Grid Fund’s $150 million for First Nations communities in regional and remote Australia.
Funding will enable upgrades to almost all current drinking water infrastructure, completing planning, design and construction for replacement of water mains, a new reservoir and associated infrastructure, new filtration equipment, updated control systems, new water pumps and water treatment processes such as clarification and UV disinfection.
Works will improve drinking water quality and service reliability, mitigating performance issues experienced across Cherbourg’s water treatment plant and distribution network over the past three years, which have resulted in frequent boiled water alerts for the community.
This upgrade will improve residents’ standard of living and, crucially, support the community to continue to live, work, practice culture, share knowledge, connect and engage on Country.
Federal Minister for the Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek, said,“It’s unacceptable that about 600,000 Australians live in places without access to clean drinking water and still have to boil water.
“That’s why we are investing in critical water infrastructure upgrades in communities like Cherbourg – so that Australians, no matter where they live, have access to safe, sustainable and reliable water.
“These critical infrastructure upgrades will provide real, on-the-ground benefits for remote communities.”
Queensland Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing, Minister for Water, Glenn Butcher, said, “Reliable water quality and services are something we often take for granted, but they are vital for the wellbeing, health and resilience of communities and prosperity of towns.
“That’s why we are proud to partner with the Federal Government to provide almost $26 million in funding for Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council to receive this much-needed upgrade to their local drinking water infrastructure, which supports a significant improvement for those who call this region home.
“This project builds on our government’s efforts in Closing the Gap and improving essential town water supplies to support liveability in First Nations communities.”
Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council Mayor, Bruce Simpson, said, “This support from the Federal and Queensland governments will be quite literally life-changing for our community.
“Failing water infrastructure and the past three years of boiled water alerts have taken its toll, so we’re grateful for this funding as it will provide a suite of upgrades to our water mains, reservoir, treatment plant and network facilities that will deliver a significant improvement in the standard of living and set us in good stead for the future.”
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