Cairns Water Security Stage 1 Project

Acknowledgement of Country

The Cairns Water Security Stage 1 (CWSS1) project is being developed on Yidinji Country. Cairns Regional Council acknowledges and pays our respects to the Traditional Custodians of the lands covered by the project area, the Gimuy Walubara Yidinji, Dulabed and Malanbarra Yidinji, and Madjandji peoples. We extend this respect to all Elders past, present and future.

Project Newsletters

Quarterly newsletters to update you on what's happening.

Construction Works Notifications

CWSS1 Works Notifications - Location and details of upcoming, current and past works.

Learn about the Cairns Water Security Stage 1 project

Construction Alignment Map

A zoomable map showing the location of where the major project components are being constructed, including the water treatment plant, water reservoir, Mulgrave River Intake, and pipework.

Three month construction works lookahead*

* Subject to weather and site conditions

Timeline item 1 - complete

October 2024
- Continue excavation works at the Jones Road site for the water treatment plant, reservoir and access road.
- Continue installing steel mesh and concrete to stabilise the hill for the access road to the water reservoir site.
- Commence foundation works for the water treatment plant.
- Ongoing design investigations.
- Continue upgrades to Jones Road.
- Establish the Maher Road compound.
Timeline item 2 - complete

November 2024
- Continue excavation works at the Jones Road site for the water treatment plant, reservoir and access road.
- Continue foundation works for the water treatment plant.
- Commencement of water treatment plant concrete works.
- Continue upgrades to Jones Road.
- Continue installing steel mesh and concrete to stabilise the hill for the access road to the water reservoir site.
- Commence installation of pipes at the water treatment plant.
- Continue the establishment of the Maher Road compound.
- Commence installation of testing wells as part of the Mulgrave River intake.
Timeline item 3 - complete

December 2024
- Continue construction of the reservoir access road.
- Continue the water treatment plant concrete works.
- Commence construction of the reservoir.
- Continue installing pipes at the water treatment plant.
- Continue upgrades to Jones Road.
- Continue installation of the testing wells as part of the Mulgrave River intake.
- Commence delivery of pipe to Maher Road compound.
- Commence trenchless pipe installation on Maher Road.
Timeline item 4 - complete

February 2025

• Continue earthworks on site for the water treatment plant, reservoir, and new access road
• Steel fixing and concrete pours at the water treatment plant site
• Upgrade of Jones Road, including the installation of drainage
• Construction works will begin on the 8ML reservoir and 5ML clear water storage
• Upgrade to the cane rail level crossing where it transitions through the newly constructed Jones Road
• Continuation of locating and marking existing utilities such as gas, telecommunications, power, sewer, and water
• Continuation of surveying and alignment checks
• Ongoing pipe deliveries to the site compound at Maher Road and Jones Road, Gordonvale
• Test drills to assist in determining the final location of the intake wells and yield as part of the Mulgrave River intake
• Commence preparation works for pipe installations
Timeline item 5 - complete

March 2025

• Ongoing excavation works on site for the water treatment plant, reservoir, and access road
• Continue water treatment plant steel fixing and concrete works
• Continue upgrades to Jones Road
• Ongoing works for the 8ML reservoir and 5ML clear water storage
• Commence installation of pipes for the water treatment plant
• Commence installation of the intake wells as part of the Mulgrave River intake
• Commence pipelaying activities in Gordonvale township, Aloomba and Behana
Timeline item 6 - complete

April 2025

• Continue the water treatment plant concrete works
• Continue installing pipes for the water treatment plant
• Continue upgrades to Jones Road
• Ongoing works for the 8ML reservoir and 5ML clear water storage
• Continue installation of the intake wells as part of the Mulgrave River intake
• Continue pipelaying activities in Gordonvale township, Aloomba and Behana
• Commence construction activities for the Administration building at the WTP site
Timeline item 7 - active

May 2025

• Continue construction activities of the Administration Building at the water treatment plant site.
• Completion of water treatment plant tank concrete works.
• Ongoing installation of underground services at the water treatment plant site.
• Ongoing concrete works for the 8ML reservoir and 5ML clear water storage tank.
• Continue pipelaying activities in the Gordonvale township, Aloomba and Behana.
• Commence horizontal directional drilling (HDD) crossing under the Mulgrave River.
• Construction of a concrete services pit, in a small corridor between the Bruce Highway and Qld Rail North Coast Line, opposite Jones Road in Gordonvale
• Installation of pipes along Jones Road to the water treatment plant site.
• Continue upgrades to Jones Road.
Timeline item 8 - active

June 2025

• Continue construction activities of the Administration Building at the water treatment plant site.
• Water testing of the water treatment plant tank.
• Ongoing installation of underground services at the water treatment plant site.
• Continue the construction of a concrete services pit, in a small corridor between the Bruce Highway and Qld Rail North Coast Line, opposite Jones Road in Gordonvale.
• Ongoing installation of pipes along Jones Road to the water treatment plant site.
• Continue with the horizontal directional drilling (HDD) crossing under the Mulgrave River.
• Continue pipelaying activities in the Gordonvale township, Aloomba and Behana.
• Continue upgrades to Jones Road
Timeline item 9 - active

July 2025

• Ongoing installation of underground services at the water treatment plant site.
• Continue Pipelaying activities in the Gordonvale township, Aloomba and Behana.
• Continue upgrades to Jones Road.
• Ongoing construction of the Administration building.
• Ongoing construction of a concrete services pit, in a small corridor between the Bruce Highway and Qld Rail North Coast Line, opposite Jones Road in Gordonvale.

Contact Us

For all enquiries about the Cairns Water Security Stage 1 project:

Contact Information
Phone	1300 69 22 47
Email	cwss1.enquiry@cairns.qld.gov.au
Website	cairns.qld.gov.au/CWSS1

Council is developing the Cairns Water Security Stage 1 (CWSS1) project at Gordonvale to deliver a new drinking water supply to the Cairns community. CWSS1 is critically needed to service Cairns’ growing population and to build resilience into the existing water network. It is the largest infrastructure project ever undertaken by Council.

The project involves building:

a water intake at the Mulgrave River, near the Desmond Trannore Bridge, Gordonvale;
a water treatment plant and water reservoirs, on Council land located at the end of Jones Road, Gordonvale; and
a network of pipes to take raw water to the treatment plant and treated water from the plant to residents.

Flood protection works will be undertaken at Council’s Behana Creek intake as part of the project, to improve the quality and resilience of that water supply. The existing treatment plant at Behana will be made redundant by the new water treatment plant being built at Gordonvale.

CWSS1 is needed to service the growing population of Cairns, which has more than tripled since the region’s main water supply, Copperlode Falls Dam, was built in 1976. With our population projected to reach 241,000 people by 2050, CWSS1 will supplement Council's existing water supplies.

It is also critical for improving the resilience of the existing water network, to ensure that our drinking water supplies are not compromised by future severe weather events.

Years in the planning, the project was prioritised as a short-term supply initiative in the Cairns Water Security Strategy 2015 and confirmed as the best solution to Cairns’ immediate drinking water needs through a comprehensive independent business case process in 2021-22.

Community is at the heart of the CWSS1 project and Council is committed to involving Traditional Custodians, landholders, and the Cairns community in the project’s development.

Community engagement is transitioning into contractor-led engagement and communications as the project moves into the construction phase. Council will scale up its own engagement activities during this phase, continuing to build awareness of the project throughout the broader Cairns region and addressing stakeholder and community concerns.

Check this webpage regularly for details of upcoming consultation and engagement activities.

Members of the CWSS1 project team are available to give a presentation about the project to interested community and business organisations. Please email cwss1.enquiry@cairns.qld.gov.au to find out more.

The CWSS1 project will deliver a range of benefits:

Improved water system redundancy
Support for regional economic prosperity
Local employment and training opportunities
Community health outcomes by maintaining clean water supply
Social stability through the provision of a consistent and reliable drinking water supply to the Cairns region
Sustainable liveability and public amenity.
Increased cultural and water education opportunities

Cairns Regional Council (Council) awarded the $325.5 million Design and Construct Contract for the Cairns Water Security Stage 1 project to John Holland Queensland (JH) in December 2023. Council is working with JH to develop a detailed project design, with construction to commence in mid-2024, and project completion in 2026.

To register your interest as a supplier or subcontractor to provide products and services on this project, please send your information to cwss1community@jhg.com.au.

Project Timeline

Timeline item 1 - complete

2022
- Project team assembled
- Public tender Expression of Interest for project design and construction
- Community and stakeholder engagement commences
- River intake proof of concept trial
- Australian and Queensland Governments commit $107.5 million each to project costs
Timeline item 2 - complete

2023
- Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) program
- Early design development
- Community and stakeholder engagement
- Design & Construct contract award
Timeline item 3 - active

2024 - 2025
- Detailed design development
- Sub-contractor procurement
- Construction
- Community and stakeholder engagement
Timeline item 4 - incomplete

2026
- Commissioning
- Project completion

Document Library

FAQs

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Funding acknowledgement

This National Water Grid project is funded by the Australian and Queensland governments and delivered in partnership with Cairns Regional Council.

Region	2019-20	2020-21	2021-22	% change
Darwin	373	360	374	3.9
Townsville	363	342	342	0
Rockhampton	383	365	317	-13
Whitsunday	304	276	277	0.3
Cairns	257	250	255	2.1
Cassowary Coast	220	224	236	5.7
Mackay	215	168	196	16.5
SEQ *	163	161	151.8	-5.70%

Have Your Say Cairns

Cairns Water Security Stage 1 (CWSS1) Project

Acknowledgement of Country

Project Newsletters

Construction Works Notifications

Learn about the Cairns Water Security Stage 1 project

Construction Alignment Map

Three month construction works lookahead*

Ask a Question (CWSS1)

CWSS1 Project Team

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Contact Us

Contact Information
Phone	1300 69 22 47
Email	haveyoursay@cairns.qld.gov.au
In writing	PO Box 359 Cairns QLD 4870, Australia

Cairns Water Security Stage 1 (CWSS1) Project

Acknowledgement of Country

Project Newsletters

Construction Works Notifications

Learn about the Cairns Water Security Stage 1 project

Construction Alignment Map

Three month construction works lookahead*

CWSS1 Project Team

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Answer this question

Contact Us