About the project

The Water for Bowen Project (the Project) is a proposed water transport system that will provide up to 60,000 ML of water per annum from water allocations sourced from the Burdekin Falls Dam.  The water will be transported from the Clare Weir on the Burdekin River as far south as Bowen and will supply water for urban, industrial and agricultural use.

Approximately half of the water is anticipated to be supplied to urban and industrial users and the remainder to agriculture.

The main components of the proposed water transport infrastructure include:

• approximately 106 km of open channel (including 12.7 km of the existing Elliot Main Channel)
• three main pipelines — the Bowen Main Pipeline, the Mount Buckley Main Pipeline and the Abbot Point Main Pipeline
• reticulation pipelines that service rural areas and a reticulation network throughout Bowen and surrounds
• five pump stations; and
• two balancing storages

SunWater has nearly finalised Stage Two of the Project which involves preliminary engineering design, the preparation of an environmental impact statement and development of a final business case to determine the Project’s feasibility.

Back to top

Proposed route of Water for Bowen project

Enlarge Map (PDF format 420KB)

Back to top

Project background

In late 2003, Stage One of the Water for Bowen Project investigated the commercial viability of transporting water from the Burdekin River to the Bowen region.  In December 2005, investigations indicated that market conditions could support a new water transport system.  In December 2006, the Water for Bowen Project was declared a ‘significant project’ by the state government for which an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is required.

With a financial commitment of $2.3M offered by the Queensland Government and funding by SunWater ($3.78M) and potential customers ($700,000) secured, the Water for Bowen Project progressed to Stage Two.

Back to top

Environmental Impact Statement

On 1 December 2006 the Water for Bowen project was declared a 'significant project' for which an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is required in accordance with the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971. The EIS process ensures that all potential impacts (positive and negative) associated with the project are identified and addressed in order for the Project to proceed.

On 1 November 2007 the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the EIS was finalised. The ToR is a document that outlines how the EIS will be undertaken and the issues that need to be addressed in the EIS report.

The Coordinator-General approved the release of the EIS for public comment in November 2009 and the submission period was from Monday 9 November until Monday 14 December 2009. Although the submission period has now closed, the complete EIS is still available on CD or can be downloaded in sections below.

Volume 1

• Table of contents (PDF format 455KB)
• Executive summary (PDF format 2183KB)
• Chapter 1 - Introduction (PDF format 2036KB)
• Chapter 2 - Project need and alternatives (PDF format 606KB)
• Chapter 3 - Description of the Project (PDF format 3713KB)
• Chapter 4 - Environmental values and Chapter 5 - Climate (PDF format 997KB)
• Chapter 6 - Land
  • 6.1 Land use and infrastructure (PDF format 7970KB)
  • 6.2 Topography and geomorphology (PDF format 5119KB)
  • 6.3 Geology and soils (PDF format 13282KB)
  • 6.4 Land contamination (PDF format 415KB)
  • 6.5 Visual amenity (PDF format 513KB)
• Chapter 7 - Nature conservation (PDF format 6112KB)
• Chapter 8 - Water resources (PDF format 2169KB)

Volume 2

• Table of contents (PDF format 153KB)
• Chapter 9 - Water quality (PDF format 924KB)
• Chapter 10 - Coastal environment (PDF format 2762KB)
• Chapter 11 - Air environment (PDF format 239KB)
• Chapter 12 - Waste (PDF format 61KB)
• Chapter 13 - Noise and vibration (PDF format 173KB)
• Chapter 14 - Transport and access arrangements (PDF format 2331KB)
• Chapter 15 - Cultural heritage (PDF format 54KB)
• Chapter 16 - Social and economic environment (PDF format 235KB)
• Chapter 17 - Hazard and risk (PDF format 104KB)
• Chapter 18 - Health and safety (PDF format 44KB)
• Chapter 19 - Cumulative impacts (PDF format 98KB)
• Chapter 20 - Draft environmental management plan (PDF format 299KB)
• Chapter 21 - Conclusions, Chapter 22 - References and Chapter 23 - Glossary (PDF format 178KB)

Volume 3 — Appendices (PDF format 4449KB)

• A1 - SunWater Environmental Policy
• A2 - Final Terms of Reference
• A3 - Controlling provisions under EPBC and MNES
• A4 - Consultation report
• A5 - Real property descriptions
• A6 - SunWater health and safety plan
• A7 - Cross reference with the Terms of Reference
• A8 - Study team
• A9 - Guidelines for land and water management plans
• A10 - Proponent commitments

Volume 4 — Attachments

Back to top

Next steps

SunWater is nearing the finalisation of Stage Two investigations.  The preliminary engineering design was completed in June 2008 and the environmental impact statement has been prepared.

It is anticipated the final business case will be completed later in 2010 (subject to gaining all necessary approvals and permits).

Project timeline

Stage One: Preliminary works and feasibility investigations
Identifying commercial demand for the potential scheme Developing an updated concept design Preliminary, scoping and feasibility works undertaken Examining a wide range of issues including environmental considerations which could potentially affect the project	Completed
Finalisation of the Stage One Water for Bowen Report	Completed
Preparation of Initial Advice Statement (PDF format 7,620KB)	Completed

Stage Two: EIS preparation
EIS Terms of Reference (ToR) finalised	Completed (November 2007)
Preliminary engineering design of preferred route, geotechnical surveys, earthworks, pump-station design, controls and structures design.	Completed
Technical studies conducted as part of EIS investigations including flora and fauna, land use strategies, visual impact, waste, water and air quality, Cultural Heritage, noise and vibration, social impact, Environmental Management Planning, health and safety.	Completed
Consultation and communication with relevant project stakeholders	Ongoing
EIS released for public comment	Completed

Final business case and EIS approval
The Coordinator-General and the Commonwealth Minister of the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts to review and approve the EIS	2010
SunWater to finalise a detailed business case including preliminary designs, a full economic viability analysis detailing financial project costs and a demand assessment, cultural heritage and native title management process approvals and all regulatory and water resource approvals. Once all relevant approvals have been received, the business case will be submitted to SunWater's Shareholding Ministers for final approval	2010

Construction
If the project is approved by SunWater's Shareholding Ministers, construction is planned to commence during the following dry season. Construction is expected to take between two to three years to complete, depending on weather and other potential impacts	Future stage (2011 onwards)

Back to top

Community engagement

SunWater is committed to involving the community in the Water for Bowen project and welcomes anyone who is interested in the project to have a chat with the project team using the contact details below.

Consultation activities that have already been undertaken include:

• One-on-one meetings with directly affected land owners
• Staffed displays at the Bowen and Ayr shows
• Static displays at a number of locations in the Burdekin and Bowen shires
• Project newsletters
• Website updates

These activities will continue throughout the year to ensure that the public remains well informed and are provided with opportunities to provide input on this important project.

Back to top

Contact details

For further information regarding Water for Bowen project, please contact the project team

Free call number:	1800 054 397
Email:	water4bowen@sunwater.com.au
Mail:	Water for Bowen Project Manager SunWater Reply Paid 15536 Brisbane, QLD, 4002
Other links:	Department of Infrastructure