Mareeba-Dimbulah Water Supply Scheme Efficiency Improvement Project

The Project

Work has been completed on the Mareeba-Dimbulah Water Supply Scheme to improve operating and distribution efficiency.

As part of our commitment to the long-term sustainability and efficiency of the scheme, $32.54 million was invested in the Mareeba-Dimbulah Water Supply Scheme Efficiency Improvement Project to upgrade infrastructure.

The project was completed in December 2021 and involved:

• 14km of pipeline:
  • 4.4 km at East Barron 4
  • 2.6 km at Atherton Creek and
  • 7 km at Southedge’s West Barron Main Channel
• More than 125 automated channel gates installed in irrigation channels including at Biboohra storage, Southedge, South Walsh and with an increase to in-channel storage at North Walsh and Atherton Creek
• At least 157 customer meter offtakes upgraded
• Approximately 95,000 hours spent on construction works.

Water losses across the scheme will be reduced by up to 8,306 megalitres. Once these water savings are validated, allocations will be made available for sale.

The project, undertaken by Sunwater, was jointly funded – with the Australian Government contributing $11.6 million through the National Water Grid Fund and the Queensland Government contributing $20.94 million.