“Twice As Big As What We Wanted And Still Delivered Under Budget!”

Two New Reservoirs Double Water Capacity For Airlie Beach Area

The Cannon Valley Reservoirs were officially opened last week, and everyone involved celebrated a project that broke the mould when it came to successful project management, budget and collaboration.

With five years of planning and just over 12 months in construction the two 12.5 mega litre water tanks are set to provide water security for our ever-growing population, effectively doubling the available water in the Greater Airlie Beach Area.

Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox was present on the day and expressed his pleasure at being invited to attend the opening of a project dear to his heart.

“When I first became Mayor in my first term for Council it became very obvious that the fastest growing area of population within the Whitsundays had a water security problem,” said the Member for Dawson.

“We had to make sure the town didn’t run out of water, and I would like to thank Councillor Jan Clifford for her advocacy.

Mr Willcox also thanked previous Federal Member for Dawson George Christensen for “going into bat” for the project to obtain $3.755 million from the Federal Government as part of the Building Better Regions fund.

The total project cost $9.2 million.

Mayor Julie Hall hosted the opening and spoke of the huge significance the two water towers will have in our region.

“They will supply increased water security in times of natural disaster and double the drinking water supply capacity for Airlie Beach and surrounds,” she explained.

“With our ever-growing population we needed to future proof our water supply.”

The reservoirs will also act as supply back-up for Proserpine and increase access for firefighters in emergencies.

This project was part of a larger staged water improvement plan which included the recent installation of the 8.8km water pipeline from the Proserpine Water Treatment Plant to Airlie Beach.

The pipeline will be serviced by a new pumping facility and a 2.5 km bore water main linking water bore sites to the Proserpine Plant.

During construction of the reservoirs, 20 local jobs were created and it is projected that up to 700 additional jobs will eventuate through the residential, commercial and industrial growth expected to result from the increased water supply.

The old Cannonvale Reservoir was damaged in 2017 from Cyclone Debbie and with the two new reservoirs now up and running, it will be able to undergo repairs.

Whitsunday Regional Council’s Chief Operating Officer for Water, Troy Pettiford, said that thanks to the project manager’s astute budgeting at pre-works they were able to deliver two reservoirs instead of the one that was initially planned.

“This means the project is twice as big as what we wanted and still delivered under budget!”

Dignitaries gather for the opening of the Cannon Valley Reservoirs

Mayor Julie Hall and Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox cut the ribbon

Mayor Julie Hall climbs the water tanks

Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox stands atop a successful project completed

Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox and Whitsunday Regional Council’s Chief Operating Officer for Water, Troy Pettiford admire the view

Photo credit: Rachael Smith

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