BMD has been awarded contracts for the installation of the final 18km of pipeline in the $215 million Haughton Pipeline Duplication Project.

Townsville City Council said  an additional 200 jobs would be created and $30 million injected into the local economy during the next stage of construction.

Water and Waste Committee Chair Cr Russ Cook said the package of works included the installation of 18km of pipeline, and construction of one river crossing at the Haughton River and creek crossing at Major’s Creek South.

“The work will be delivered in sequence with civil works and land acquisitions along the pipeline easement and is expected to begin within weeks,” Cr Cook said.

BMD Group executive director – operations Scott Power said the group was looking forward to successfully delivering another key project for the Townsville region.

“BMD has been delivering key infrastructure in North Queensland for 25 years and as a local company we are proud to be contributing to an important project such as the Haughton Pipeline Duplication,” Mr Power said.

“As a company dedicated to collaborative contracting and local input, we are focusing on the creation of local jobs during construction and are looking at spending in excess of $30 million with local businesses.”

Minister for Communities, Disability Services and Seniors and Member for Mundingburra Coralee O’Rourke, Member for Townsville Scott Stewart and Member for  Thuringowa Aaron Harper joined councillors on a site inspection to announce the latest contracts.

Mr Stewart said with the community still recovering from an unprecedented flooding event, that the jobs and economic investment that would flow from the next two stages of the pipeline provided a much-needed boost for the economy.

“Being on site it is great to see this vital piece of infrastructure coming together – one that will secure a reliable water supply for the region for decades to come,’’ Mr Stewart said.

The project remains on schedule for completion in March 2020.

PHOTO: Cr Les Walker, Mayor Jenny Hill, Cr Russ Cook and local MPs Scott Stewart, Aaron Harper and Coralee O’Rourke inspect the site.