Water Feasibility Study

Mayoral Media Statement - 18 December 2020

Burnett Water Feasibility Study

Mayor Brett Otto is excited to announce the completion of the second stage of the $2 million National Water Infrastructure Development Fund – Burnett Water Feasibility Study. 

The Australian Government, through the Queensland Government, provided funding towards the North and South Burnett Feasibility Study through the National Water Infrastructure Development Fund (NWIDF). The Queensland Government entered in an agreement with the proponents, both South Burnett Regional Council and North Burnett Regional Council to complete the feasibility study. Through the assessment phase of the feasibility study both Councils coordinated stakeholder engagements and public consultations.

The recommendations of the study reflect an independent assessment by Jacobs of options to increase water supply and security across the two local government areas.

Mayor Otto is pleased to announce the culmination of this stage of the study in the release of the Option’s Analysis Report. Following a high-level assessment which confirmed all options for the South Burnett as feasible, detailed assessment was used to rank and order the projects, with a number of short-listed projects being carried through for more detailed consideration. These projects were further considered against issues such as social impact, environmental parameters, sustainability and economic benefits. This work recently completed by the project Consultants, Jacobs, addresses project cost and benefit as well as job creation of each of the projects. The key recommendations of the Options Analysis are:

• Construct a re-regulating weir on Barambah Creek (Barlil Weir);
• Referral of efficiency measures to the Queensland Government for review aimed at optimising water access rules in order to support agricultural supply chain improvements; and
• The South Burnett Integrated Water Initiative.
   

This last recommendation has a number of components, including:

1. Investigate a permanent transfer of high priority water from the Tarong power station to secure an urban water supply for Kingaroy;
2. Securing a combination of private and public investment for the construction of a water recycling plant at Swickers facility in Kingaroy;
3. Examining the viability and process of converting Gordonbrook Dam from urban to irrigation use; and
4. Securing additional water for irrigators in Blackbutt, to be transported through the Wivenhoe pipeline.
    

Mayor Otto said, “Council supports these recommendations and as the next phase of the project, proposes to jointly fund the preparation of a 25-year Economic Roadmap to provide strategic direction for the South Burnett, preparing and managing strategic water opportunities.  This next phase of the Burnett Water Feasibility Study programmed for early 2021 is also planned to support advancement of the recommended projects.”

20-12-19 Mayoral Launch of the National Water Infrastructure Development Fund Study in the South Burnett 

STATEMENT FROM SOUTH BURNETT REGIONAL COUNCIL MAYOR KEITH CAMPBELL

It is my great pleasure to announce that the long awaited $2 million water feasibility study for the Burnett region has now commenced. South and North Burnett Regional Councils have together secured National Water Infrastructure Development Fund (NWIDF) funding to identify the long-term water needs of the region and assess options for meeting those needs. 

The study aims to identify water supply options that have the potential to improve the reliability of existing supplies for towns, business and irrigated agriculture in the Burnett, to boost the economic dynamics in the region and to underpin future investment. The study will directly focus on identifying possible options to increase water availability for our region and also on key projects that may be able to improve the reliability of existing allocations.

Even if all our existing dams were full, we do not have enough water to maximise the potential growth of the region’s economy and bring more jobs to our communities.  Increasing the availability of water in the South Burnett, will also enhance the social wellbeing and liveability of our communities.

By mid-2020, this phase of the study – the strategic and preliminary business case – will generate a short list of the most promising water infrastructure and related options to meet the region’s key water needs. From there, the preferred options for each council area will be progressed to future phases including more detailed design and cost estimates, expected to be complete by late 2020/early 2021.

This study will build on the water agenda led by Council in the past two to three years and follows on from our previous work with the community to engage in water futures.  This study has the potential to change the economic dynamics of the South Burnett, to enhance water security for current users, create agricultural initiatives, build new industrial opportunity and encourage future urban growth. The study will identify the most promising water infrastructure solutions and increase our chances of a real project being funded and constructed in the region.

The feasibility study will be coordinated in partnership between South Burnett Regional Council, North Burnett Regional Council, Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy, and Sunwater. We were recently pleased to announce that Jacobs has been appointed as our lead consultant for the study and has extensive experience across this field.

We are excited that the water agenda has become prominent at all levels of government. This feasibility study is one of three critical and concurrent projects that will help to shape our future water strategies.

Two other studies are also progressing at present, exploring water options in the region. Sunwater is undertaking its Regional Blueprint on the opportunities and potential responses within the Burnett Basin over November 2019 to mid 2020, while Building Queensland is investigating long-term options related to Paradise Dam over the period to February/March 2020. As each of these studies will engage key stakeholders, coordination between the three project teams will be undertaken to ensure the exchange of learnings of mutual interest.

View a graphical depiction of the various processes iinvolved here.

Community engagement and participation will be a pillar for the NWIDF study and Jacobs has been asked to engage with major water users who are seeking access to more reliable water. Jacobs will conduct a series of multi layered stakeholder engagement meetings and workshops consisting of one-on-one interviews and small group meetings with current high volume water users, as well as a series of public meetings and workshops within our region for all current and future water users. This detailed stakeholder engagement commenced in December and will continue into the first half of 2020.

The primary goal of these engagements is to understand how much water is needed considering potential costs of water, where it needs to be delivered, when and the enterprises it will strengthen.

To make this happen, I invite you to take the journey with us and register your interest by emailing your contact details to Council. Alternatively, please call South Burnett Regional Council on (07) 4189 9100 and register your interest with our Customer Service team.

Jacobs also welcomes any information that you may have in relation to possible projects and, in particular, any future drivers to create significant demand for bulk water.  Jacobs will contact you to organise a face-to-face meeting to understand the volume of your demand, the enterprise/s it would support, the geographical location of that demand and your preferred timing.

I would like to thank everyone from our region for taking an interest in the Burnett Water Feasibility Study, I look forward to working with you for our water future.

Keith Campbell

MAYOR

Community engagement and participation will be a pillar for the National Water Infrastructure Development Fund (NWIDF) study and Jacobs has been asked to engage with major water users who are seeking access to more reliable water. Jacobs will conduct a series of multi layered stakeholder engagement meetings and workshops consisting of one-on-one interviews and small group meetings with current high volume water users, as well as a series of public meetings and workshops within the South Burnett region for all current and future water users. 

Jacobs also welcomes any information that you may have in relation to possible projects and, in particular, any future drivers to create significant demand for bulk water.  Jacobs will contact you to organise a face-to-face meeting to understand the volume of your demand, the enterprise/s it would support, the geographical location of that demand and your preferred timing.

The primary goal of these engagements is to understand how much water is needed considering potential costs of water, where it needs to be delivered, when and the enterprises it will strengthen.

You can register to participate in the study by completing the below Registration Form, providing information on how much water you need, where it needs to be delivered, and how it will be used. Please save and forward your completed form by email, mail to PO Box 336 Kingaroy Qld 4610, or drop it in to your local Customer Service Centre.  Alternatively, please call South Burnett Regional Council on (07) 4189 9100 and register your interest with our Customer Service team.

Click here to fill out a Burnett Water Feasibility Study Registration Form

 Please Note: Additional activities are concurrently in progress including Sunwater Blueprint and Paradise Dam Study. Further dates are to be released upon review of progress and confirmation by steering committee.

09-07-20 Burnett Water Feasibility Presentation - South Burnett Regional Council Update

26-06-20 FINAL - North and South Burnett Strategic Business Case

26-06-20 Flyer - Burnett Water Feasibility Study - Project Update Evening & Release of Strategic Business Case

14-02-20 Flyer - Burnett Water Feasibility Study - Engagement Workshops

30-01-20 Flyer - Burnett Water Feasibility Study - Information Evening and Engagement Workshops

30-01-20 Media Release - Update - Burnett Water Feasibility Study

20-12-19 Media Release - Mayoral Launch of the National Water Infrastructure Development Fund Study in the South Burnett

20-12-19 National Water Infrastructure - Graphical Description

17-12-19 SBT Pg4 - Mayoral Launch of the National Water Infrastructure Development Fund Study in the South Burnett

A copy of the Options Analysis Report is available here.