Construction, civil and infrastructure briefs

Progress on Central Queensland wind farm plans, a $2.5 million Townsville wastewater project, and new technical specifications from Austroads are among this week’s construction, civil and infrastructure updates. GNM Group on $2.5m Townsville wastewater project Work has started to install about 2kms of new wastewater pipe in Kirwan, enhancing the capacity of the wastewater network in the area. Townsville City Council has engaged local company GNM Group to undertake the $2.5 million project, which is expected to support around 12 jobs. Construction is forecast to be complete by the middle of 2022, weather and conditions pending. Townsville Water and Waste Committee chairperson Russ Cook said the $2.5 million project would connect a new pump station that has recently been built in Kirwan to the rest of the wastewater network. Epuron lodges EIS for Lotus Creek wind farm Epuron has submitted its development application and Environmental Impact Statement to the State Government for the Lotus Creek wind farm in Central Queensland. The proposal is for up to 55 wind turbines and associated infrastructure on a site about 20km west of Saint Lawrence. The company said the lodgment followed a significant revision of the project’s design to avoid priority habitat for koalas and greater gliders. The redesign also reduced the project area by 40 per cent. New reservoir hits testing phase Testing has commenced on Home Hill’s new 5 megalitre reservoir after completion of construction, led by principal contractor TEi Services. The process involves filling the structure with non-potable bore water to ensure all equipment and technology at the facility works correctly and the reservoir can be flushed out prior to the network being connected. “This is just the first stage of testing, with the reservoir also set to be filled with treated water prior to being connected to the Home Hill reticulation network,” Burdekin Mayor Lyn McLaughlin said. The Home Hill 5ML Reservoir is a joint initiative of Burdekin Shire Council and the Queensland Government. Bridge Street Quarry strategies narrowed down Rehabilitation of the Bridge Street Quarry is one step closer following a recommendation from Toowoomba Regional Council’s (TRC) Infrastructure Committee to move to a detailed design stage. Infrastructure committee chair Cr Carol Taylor said the council had narrowed six strategies down to two for further progression. “This could be a tourist attraction that brings in visitors from all across Australia and internationally but before we get it to that point we need to rehabilitate the site,” Cr Taylor said. “The first step was initial safety works, including new fencing, and this has been followed by council undertaking geotechnical investigations and design works for the rehabilitation of the site. “As we’ve undertaken these investigations, we’ve also engaged with an external consultant to develop a Rehabilitation Strategy Report." If approved at the ordinary meeting of council next week, they were expecting to receive the detailed design of the preferred rehabilitation strategies before March 31 next year, she said. Work set to start on demolishing Esplanade building Demolition of the carpark and office building at 51 The Esplanade (located next to the former Mulgrave Shire Officers) is expected to start in January 2022. Cairns Regional Council this week endorsed the $1.3 million project as part of the Cairns Gallery Precinct development, which will connect three heritage listed buildings – the existing Cairns Art Gallery, the refurbished Cairns Court House and the former Mulgrave Shire Council Chambers – into art spaces. Council has received $10 million as part of the Federal Government’s Regional Recovery Partnerships Program to progress the Cairns Gallery Precinct, which include works to refurbish the former Mulgrave Shire Council Chambers and further concept development and detailed design for a proposed new gallery. Bentley Park water pump to be replaced Cairns Regional Council will spend $2 million to replace the ageing water pump station off Walker Rd in Bentley Park. The need to replace the pumping station became a priority following the recent failure of one of the pumps. Works will include the construction of a new pump station building; supply, delivery, installation and testing of a new pump set; construction of an access road; power supply extensions; and decommissioning of the existing pump station. Funding boost for community infrastructure The Queensland Government has announced $86 million support to help councils deliver priority infrastructure projects like tourism, water and sewage or sports infrastructure. Deputy Premier and Minister for Local Government Steven Miles said the Local Government Grants and Subsidies Program (LGGSP) provided funding to councils to deliver the infrastructure and essential services communities needed. “The types of infrastructure projects we are talking about can include sewerage and water, economic development and tourism, and community wellbeing projects such as sport and recreation centres, and security and community safety projects,” he said. New technical specifications from Austroads Austroads has published two new technical specifications relating to aggregates used for sprayed bituminous surfacing work and for microsurfacing on road pavements. Austroads Technical Specification ATS 3120 sets out the requirements for the supply of aggregates used for sprayed bituminous surfacing work. It includes requirements for aggregate strength and durability, friction rating, production properties, sampling and testing, and precoating. Austroads Technical Specification ATS 3450 sets out the requirements for the manufacture and placement of microsurfacing for use on road pavements. It includes requirements for component materials, properties of the microsurfacing, mix design responsibility, manufacturing and application, and sampling and testing.

Construction, civil and infrastructure briefs

Industry Queensland

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