By Kerry Larsen

• 23 megalitre reservoir for Port Douglas
• Craiglie or Mowbray likely sites
• Construction to commence within 12 months

A 23 megalitre reservoir looks set to be constructed on the outskirts of Port Douglas next year to ensure the future of water usage within the town is sustainable.

An $80,000 allocation of funds was announced as part of last week’s Cairns Regional Council’s water and waste capital works budget, to kick-start the Port Douglas Reservoir Design and Construction Project later this year.

Currently, drinking water is directed from Rex Creek (a tributary of Mossman River) to Port Douglas, Mossman, Craiglie, Mowbray, Newell Beach, Cooya Beach and Cassowary, with water stored for the Port Douglas township in holding tanks around Port Douglas.

Water restrictions have been in place in the Douglas region since October 2009 in an effort to sustain water usage as a result of falling levels in Rex Creek and a rising population base within the tourism-based Far North Queensland town.

Permanent water conservation restrictions are still enforced, with garden watering times restricted to between 5am and 9am, and 5pm and 9pm, three days per week.

Division 10 councillor, Julia Leu, says the reservoir will be constructed on elevated land in either Craiglie or Mowbray, with a gravity feed system that can allow water to flow into the existing Port Douglas pipeworks.

“Council has identified that we need additional water storage in Port Douglas to cater for the future,” Cr Leu said. “We have a shortfall on current demands and this allocation of funds for a 23 megalitre reservoir means we can cater for the next 15 years of growth.”

The majority of the $80,000 is expected to be spent on designing the reservoir within the current financial year, with construction intended to start within the 2012 financial year.

“But if the design process is completed ahead of schedule, the construction date could be brought forward,” Cr Leu said.

“And a gravity-fed system will help eliminate the expensive running of pumps and ongoing maintenance, which goes towards Council’s aim of becoming one of the greenest in the country.”

While the exact location of the reservoir is yet to be determined, Cr Leu confirmed that freehold land may have to be acquired in the Mowbray area if existing council land is not deemed appropriate.