Case studyWater · Utilities
Cairns Water Security Stage 1
Intake, treatment plant & pipelines · Gordonvale, QLD · In progress
- Client
- Cairns Regional Council
- Project value
- $472M
- Status
- Construction, due 2027
- Our role
- Area Manager – Pipelines & Intakes
Commissioning Manager
The challenge
Cairns Water Security Stage 1, the largest infrastructure project Council has ever undertaken, includes a new Mulgrave River intake, a treatment plant and reservoirs at Gordonvale, and around 30 km of pipelines through cane farms and across cane rail, the rail corridor, state roads and waterways.
What was delivered
- Area Manager for the pipelines and intakes within Council's site team, since October 2024
- Design reviews, including trenchless crossings, raw water mains and the intake
- Quality surveillance, inspections and non-conformance management
- Assessment of contractor change requests and claims on Council's behalf
- Tracking of approval conditions and cultural heritage requirements
- Commissioning Manager on Council's behalf
- Regular drone progress records, and aerial photos for Council's social media posts
Beyond project managementArea Manager for the pipelines and intakes, Commissioning Manager, and drone progress & media photography for Council.
The outcome
Construction is almost complete and commissioning has commenced. When complete in 2027, the project will supply up to 60 ML of drinking water a day, securing Cairns' water supply for decades to come.
$472MCouncil's largest ever infrastructure project
60 MLa day of new drinking water supply
~30 kmpipelines across farmland, cane rail, rail corridor & state roads