IPS is proud to have played a role in helping the Cherbourg community secure almost $26 million for vital water infrastructure upgrades.
Cherbourg residents will soon have a more reliable and safer drinking water supply after receiving crucial funding support from the Queensland and Australian Governments.
The First Nations community 170 km north-west of Brisbane was one of several remote or Indigenous communities to share in $62 million worth of new water infrastructure funding from the National Water Grid Authority (NWGA).
Cherbourg’s allocation of almost $26 million will deliver better drinking water quality, new water pumps, filtration systems and other infrastructure to enhance the wellbeing of its 1,800 residents.
The IPS team was engaged by the Queensland Government to analyse Cherbourg’s infrastructure issues and make recommendations to resolve them, creating a foundation for the Government’s NWGA funding submission.
IPS Director Sascha Kurz said the team was delighted to see a successful outcome for both Cherbourg and other much-needed communities and water infrastructure projects.
“We were very pleased to play a part in this achievement for the Cherbourg community through our work on engineering and technical assessments for the Queensland Government,” she said.
“IPS is also excited to be putting our water sector experience to use in delivering safe and secure water supply to other remote communities.”
Currently, Cherbourg residents are sent regular alerts to boil their water due to contamination concerns related to the existing 70-year-old water treatment plant and the quality of the water drawn from Baramhah Creek.
The new funding will cover three key infrastructure components:
- Upgrades and optimisation of the existing water treatment plant, including microfiltration
- The $14 million replacement of the 2km trunk main
- The construction of a new holding reservoir for treated water near Bert Button Lookout to supply houses on the top of the hill
Cherbourg Mayor Bruce Simpson, pictured above with Council CEO Chatur Zala and Operations Manager Matthew Bock, told southburnett.com.au the upgrades would provide water security and safer water for the next 50 to 100 years.
Mayor Simpson said the improvements would also save council the cost of constantly fixing breakdowns and water leaks in the existing infrastructure. He said planning for the upgrades had already commenced with work on the ground expected to start in about six months.
Read more about the funding for 11 communities here.
Photo: Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council
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