Margate water security in the pipeline

TasWater is finalising the planning and design for the construction of the last section of the Margate Water Pipeline Duplication Project.

The pipeline will provide a new supply system for the area feeding water from the Ridgeway Dam through Browns Hill Reservoir and Gilben Glebe in Kingston.

Already two kilometres of the pipeline has been installed between Gilben Glebe to Howden Road, with a similar distance also finished at the Margate reservoir end.

The largest section of pipe, around 4 kilometres, will run from Howden Road to Margate and work should start on its construction during winter.

TasWater CEO Michael Brewster says “the new pipeline has been on the drawing board for some time with population growth in the area identified as a key driver for increasing water capacity”.

“During drier periods over summer, the Margate reservoir has experienced low levels of water, at times severely testing the ability of the system to keep adequate water supplied to customers”.

“The new pipe will not only increase the capacity of water flowing to Margate, avoiding the risk of water restrictions but the upgraded facility will improve reliability.”

The overall cost of the new pipe network is around $12.5 million.

“It’s anticipated the pipeline will not only keep pace with ongoing growth in the Margate area but provide the option to extend water reticulation to new areas” according to Mr. Brewster.

TasWater expects to finalise design details of the final section of the pipe by mid-June.

It will be laid mainly along road reserves and on some private property with the work expected to take around five months.

Further information on the project can be found on the TasWater website www.taswater.com.au
Simon Pilkington, TasWater