***STRICTLY EMBARGOED UNTIL 2.30PM, JUNE 5, 2007***
5 June 2007
BUDGET: Funding commitment to SEQ Water Grid reaffirmed
Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Infrastructure Anna Bligh today
announced 2007-08 allocations for the range of critical water infrastructure projects
under the SEQ Water Grid in the State Budget.
“The Government has reaffirmed its commitment to delivering the SEQ Water Grid
and to drought-proof South East Queensland by specifying the allocations to the
water infrastructure solutions for SEQ,’ said Ms Bligh
“The Government is working in collaboration with the Federal and local governments
and in partnership with the private sector to provide the SEQ Water Grid, a network
of two-way pipelines to connect all major bulk water sources in the region.
“Severe as it is, the drought is not going to overcome this community - the
Government has a clear infrastructure delivery program to secure SEQ water
supplies and we are actioning this program right now’
“We are on schedule for the construction of the Gold Coast desalination project
which will deliver 125 megalitres of water a day. It is said to be completed in
November 2008 and operational by January 2009.”
“More than 2500 workers are working day-in, day-out at more than 30 sites across
SEQ to build the pipeline,’ she said.
The SEQ Grid is valued at around $9 billion in total and, as specified in the 2007-08
Budget Papers, $2.220 billion will be invested in several major projects:
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Western Corridor Recycled Water Project ($1.183 billion)
SEQ (Gold Coast) Desalination Projects ($46.6 million investment by the
Department of Infrastructure);
Traveston Crossing Dam ($285 million)
Wyaralong Dam and associated infrastructure ($65 million);
Southern Regional Water Pipeline ($465 million);
Northern Pipeline Interconnector ($160 million); and
Eastern Pipeline Interconnector ($15 million).
‘In addition to the above figure for the Western Corridor Recycled Water Project, the
Government has boosted investment into the project by $630 million over the next
two financial years, to help deliver a bigger and better recycled water pipeline faster’
said Ms Bligh
‘This additional injection of funds will lead to an extra 22 million litres a day into
Wivenhoe Dam and we also expect to bring the construction schedule forward by
two months,’
“The community and industry are certainly improving the way water is used to
conserve supplies in SEQ and the Government is on track with the delivery of water
infrastructure to secure supplies for the region – now and well into the future,” Ms
Bligh said.
Media Contact: Deputy Premier’s office 3224 6900