Council to submit new water reservoir for major infrastructure funding
By Cassandra Pulver
Published Thursday 30 July 2015
The new $200 million Building our Regions Regional Infrastructure Fund (Building our Regions) is targeted at local government critical infrastructure projects.
The purpose of the Building our Regions program is to not only provide infrastructure funding in regional areas but also fostering economic development and improving the livability of regional communities while at the same time supporting jobs.
The Department of State Development states that “applicants should submit projects that are critical to the functioning of a community where delivery of the project will have a significant impact on the community’s prosperity and wellbeing. The project should be ‘shovel ready’, support jobs and foster economic development while providing substantive evidence of the demand or need for the project. This includes the consequences of not addressing the issue, as well as evidence that the proposed project is an appropriate response to the identified demand or need.”
The Honourable Anthony Lynham MP said “the funding for Building our Regions was the biggest ticket item in a $620 million budget for the Department of State Development.”
Under a former Douglas Shire Council, a need for new water security for the region was identified as a major infrastructure project. This need progressed further through Cairns Regional Council which involved extensive preliminary work involving land location, consultation with Traditional Owners and design and engineering works.
In a DSC CEO report published on 9th October 2014 it stated that under a former initiative “The Queensland Government is committed to supporting our regional communities and through the Royalties for the Regions program and will invest $495 million over four years. The program aims to provide an economic future for Queensland’s regions, beyond mining and resources, by investing in targeted infrastructure projects. Round Four of this Program is in process now. Council has submitted an application for the Port Douglas Reservoir. This is for funding contribution for the construction of the proposed drinking water supply 20ML reservoir.”
http://douglas.qld.gov.au/ceo-report-update/
The DSC was not successful in it’s initial application for funding for the proposed water reservoir through the Department of State Development’s former initiative called Royalties of the Regions Program. However with the current governments’ budget announcement of the new $200 million Building our Regions program, DSC are currently working on and developing a new application to be submitted.
Mayor Julia Leu “is fairly confident this project meets the criteria” to be eligible for funding. “We are keen to continue with this infrastructure project with this Council.”
“The preliminary design and associated work has been done with the proposal previously submitted last year and is currently being reviewed for the submission under the new program.
“For us to have appropriate growth and sustainability as well as economic growth for the future, we can’t rely on our current water reservoir arrangement, we need a new reservoir. There have been times of long, dry periods and we have been in danger of running out of water.
“The design of the new reservoir will have a gravity fed system and we are currently having to rely on pumps therefore electricity costs are high. The new reservoir will save money over time and it is a good energy saving initiative. I want to ensure we have water security for the next 50 or 60 years,” stated Mayor Leu.
With the current application for funding for the water reservoir underway but as yet to be submitted, Council have announced the purchase of land with the intention to build a new reservoir. In a closed session DSC unanimously resolved on 6th March 2015 “that Council delegate authority to the Mayor and Chief Executive Officer in accordance with Section 257 of the Local Government Act 2009 to negotiate, determine and finalise any and all matters associated with the purchase of the land being part of Lot 8 on RP891300, including settlement and execution of all documentation.”
On 10th March 2015 DSC announced they had purchased land with the intention to build a new reservoir on the site to secure the future of the Port Douglas water supply.
The new site, off Ferrero Rd, was chosen because of its proximity to Port Douglas as well as its elevated position and suitability for geotechnical requirements.
Mayor Julia Leu said Council is now seeking funding contributions from the State and Federal Governments to build the new 22-megalitre reservoir, which will more than triple Port Douglas’ existing water reserves.
“All design and modeling requirements have been completed and the total estimated project cost for the new reservoir is around $12 million,” Mayor Leu said.
“The new reservoir would overcome both the storage shortfall identified with the existing 10-megalitre reservoir in Craiglie and reduce operational costs in the long-term.
“Due to the low level of the existing reservoir, all water has to be pumped from this elevation whereas from the new site it can be gravity-fed, saving an estimated $10,000 a month in electricity costs.
“The new reservoir would also provide long-term storage capacity required to service population growth and increased demands and would greatly reduce any impact of natural disaster events on the Port Douglas water supply.”
Council has identified several State and Federal Government funding opportunities which the reservoir is eligible for.
The Mayor stated that “this is an excellent location as we are severely hampered by our current water arrangements as well as the next potential dry period.”
In the DSC Operational Plan 2014-2015 under Water and Waste major initiatives, the action identified is to develop and implement long term strategies to increase the treated water storage capacity in Port Douglas with the key performance indicator being to improve long term water supply security.
Therefore it would seem that this major project has been identified by the Council as being the highest priority and most advanced, in terms of being deliverable, from any other major projects currently in front of therm. It is obviously a stand out project and all or any future infrastructure improvement plans should be considered but with this kind of funding being so rarely available should more public consultation have been sought.
Infrastructure priorities are forever being debated. Getting these priorities in the right order is paramount to the success of the region. Do you think there is a higher infrastructure priority that could be submitted to access this funding or do you think the Council have got it right? We’d like to hear your views through our comments section below.