The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services (QPWS) has advised Gladstone Council that an additional permit for the removal of protected plant species must be obtained prior to the commencement of construction. This permit is in addition to the vegetation clearance permit already approved for the project. Other permits such as those required from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority are in progress.
Construction on the Agnes Water/Seventeen Seventy Integrated Water Project is anticipated to start in October 2009, following the completion of the approvals phase. The first items to be constructed will be the access road and pipeline from the treatment plant to the beach.
A spokeswoman for the Gladstone council has rejected claims made in the Gladstone Observer that the pipeline needed to be re-routed after encountering rock formations on the beach stating “The preferred HDD method Council intends to utilise is compatible with rock and sand.”
United Utilities Australia (UUA) is the principle contractor, acting in a Project Management capacity. Construction contractors are yet to be formerly appointed.
The sea water inlet pipe will be approximately 550 metres long. A pump station will then pump the seawater a further 1,350 metres to the treatment plant and the inlet pipe diameter will vary from 400mm to 600 mm.
