Talwood to benefit from greater drinking water security

An increased supply of drinking water will soon mean greater water security for Talwood residents as work begins this month to construct two new storage reservoirs in the town.

The concrete reservoirs will be constructed at the Council water treatment plant and will increase the output capacity of the Talwood plant by 550 kilolitres.

Goondiwindi Regional Council successfully achieved a grant of $369,000 from the Queensland Government’s Local Government Grants and Subsidies Program (LGGSP) towards the project.

Mayor of the Goondiwindi region the Honourable Cr Lawrence Springborg AM said the reservoir project would complement over $6.5 million allocated by Council to upgrade the region’s water security infrastructure this financial year.

“Water security for the Goondiwindi region is a major priority for this Council, and I’m pleased to announce that this project will mean a greater supply of treated drinking water for Talwood residents, and additional long-term security during periods of higher demand,” the Mayor said.

“Service is Council’s core business, and having the necessary infrastructure in place so that we can continue to deliver that service to residents all across the region is imperative.

“This Council is committed to improving the delivery and accessibility of its services to residents, especially in our more rural communities,” Cr Springborg said.

Council unveiled an $8 million plan in February this year to secure the Goondiwindi region’s water supply. The Talwood project will be in addition to several short- and long-term solutions that Council has already delivered across the region, including the installation of new bores in Goondiwindi and Yelarbon, the replacement of the Texas bore, the introduction of water restrictions across the region, and upgrades to water treatment plants to improve water quality.

Cr Springborg said the external funding allocated towards the reservoir project was a particular achievement for the region given the scope of the work.

“By successfully funding this project externally, Council can achieve a significant infrastructure upgrade at minimal cost to the ratepayer,” he said.

“External grants such as the LGGSP are such a benefit, as it means the ratepayer dollar can be put towards additional projects across the region.”

The LGGSP is a competitive grant that provides funding to Queensland local governments to deliver priority infrastructure and essential services that meet the identified needs of their communities.

The work will not affect the water currently provided to connected residents and there should not be any noticeable differences in the pressure or supply. The construction will be completed in stages over an expected period of six months.