$630,000 upgrades further improve Inglewood water security

More than half a million dollars of upgrades have been completed in Inglewood this week to further improve the town’s water security.

Goondiwindi Regional Council has completed major work to replace a previously non-serviceable potable water rising main located within the Macintyre Brook.

The project will significantly reduce the risk of water supply interruptions and improve Council's ability to maintain supply to the town under high demand conditions.

The $630,000 project was jointly funded by the Australian Government and Goondiwindi Regional Council. Australian Government funding of $600,000 was provided through the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) Program. This program supports local councils to deliver priority local road and community infrastructure projects across Australia, supporting jobs and the resilience of local economies to help communities bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Honourable David Littleproud MP, Member of Maranoa said locals deserve an uninterrupted supply of water with the security of high-quality infrastructure.   

“The Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program was intended for people to benefit from much needed renovations such as this $630,000 upgrade to improve water security in Inglewood,” he stated.

Cr Rick Kearney holds Council’s portfolio for water services and said the project was an example of the need to prioritise the replacement of water infrastructure in the region.

“The repair and renewal of our region’s water infrastructure is a huge priority for Council,” Cr Kearney said.

“We have about 186 kilometres of water mains in the Goondiwindi Region alone – and some of those assets are up to 60 years old. With the average lifespan of a water main only about 70 years, many will require significant ongoing investment in future years,” he said.

Council has bored the new 680-metre-long replacement potable water rising main underneath the Macintyre Brook.

The replacement potable water rising main is one of a pair connecting the Inglewood Water Treatment Plant with the storage reservoirs, and the storage reservoirs with the reticulation system.

“The configuration of the Inglewood water supply system is such that at least one potable water rising main must be available at all times to ensure continuity of supply,” Cr Kearney said. “Before this project, only one of the two potable water rising mains in Inglewood was serviceable, leaving us with a significant risk of disruption if that single main ever failed.”

Council has received more than $2.2 million from the Australian Government’s LRCI program for 2022-23, and Cr Kearney said Council will focus on the maintenance and replacement of aging public infrastructure with the latest round of Australian Government LRCI funding.

“Service is Council’s core business, so it’s important to prioritise projects that will extend the life of our assets and ensure we can continue to deliver quality services,” he said.

“Council is extremely grateful to have received this funding from the Australian Government’s LRCI program towards this project, which will go a long way to securing Inglewood’s water supply for many years to come.”