Residents from Southern Downs and Toowoomba regional councils are invited to share feedback on a proposed pipeline from Toowoomba to Warwick that aims to improve drought resilience.
The proposal also aims to provide water supply to Toowoomba regional towns along the route, such as Clifton, while ensuring there are no impacts to Toowoomba’s water security.
Queensland Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, said investing in major water infrastructure projects was an important part of the government’s COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan.
“Water security is a key issue for locals right throughout regional Queensland. That’s why we’re investing more than $8 million to start work on the Toowoomba to Warwick pipeline,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“My government is committed to delivering new public infrastructure that will create jobs and give peace of mind to locals.
“It’s important that we get feedback from the people of the Southern Downs and Toowoomba to ensure that what we deliver is the best result for all involved.
“We’ll continue to invest in new water infrastructure to create jobs and ensure the safety and security of regional communities in the future.”
Minister for Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water, Glenn Butcher, said community consultation was important, in addition to technical assessments which are already underway.
“I want to hear the views of the community so that, in consultation with councils, we can make the right decisions,” Mr Butcher said.
Mr Butcher said recent rainfall should not diminish the crucial importance of this work.
“It is tempting to look at current dam levels and think we don’t need to act now. But we only need to think back to 2020 when Leslie Dam dwindled to just 4.6 per cent capacity and the projection that Warwick would run out of water by late 2020,” Mr Butcher said.
Mr Butcher said while the initial purpose of the pipeline proposal was to examine options to deliver drought contingency water to Warwick, the Queensland Government had listened to the calls from Toowoomba Regional Council, to include their regional communities along the pipeline route.
“The proposal has been expanded to include Cambooya, Greenmount, Nobby and Clifton; communities that we know have water security challenges as well.”
The water proposed to be delivered through the pipeline would come from Wivenhoe Dam through Toowoomba Council’s existing water infrastructure.
“We understand Toowoomba residents want assurances that this project won’t impact on their water security – this is why the project includes thoroughly investigating the existing network’s capacity,” Mr Butcher said.
The investigations and preparatory works for the proposed Toowoomba to Warwick pipeline is part of the Queensland Government’s $19.34 million Southern Downs Drought Resilience Package (SDDRP).
The SDDRP is already creating other local water supply measures, which help mitigate the devastating impact of drought for communities in this important part of Queensland.
In late 2019, the state commenced planning for a proposed new pipeline, from Toowoomba to Warwick.
In response to low supplies in dams in the Southern Downs, the Queensland Government began water carting from Connolly Dam to Stanthorpe, full-time, in January 2020.
Water carting was no longer needed after Storm King Dam returned to 100 per cent capacity in 2021.
To learn more and to provide feedback on the project please visit: https://beta.ee.alytics.com/t2wpipeline.
