Cairns Water Security Stage 1 Project

About the CWSS1 Project

The Cairns Water Security Stage 1 (CWSS1) project is one of the most significant infrastructures undertaken by the Cairns Regional Council. Driven by the urgent need to meet future demand from population growth, the CWSS1 will secure a safe, reliable, and sustainable water supply for the growing region representing a bold step forward in regional water security.

Appointed by Cairns Regional Council in December 2023, John Holland is the lead contractor for the design and construction of this vital project.

The project involves building:

a water intake at the Mulgrave River, near the Desmond Trannore Bridge, Gordonvale;
a water treatment plant and water reservoirs (with storage capacities of 5ML and 8ML), on Council land located at the end of Jones Road, Gordonvale
a new network of pipeline of approximately 30 kilometres of a mix of steel concrete-lined pipe, PVC, and polyethylene pipe to take raw water to the treatment plant and treated water from the plant to residents.
Flood protection works at Behana Creek intake, 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.

Once operational, the facility will supply up to 60 megalitres of treated water per day significantly boosting the region’s water supply capacity. Cairns Water Security – Stage 1 project is not just about pipes it’s about future-proofing a thriving, sustainable Cairns for generations to come.

Construction Works Notifications

Location and details of upcoming, current and past works.

CWSS1 Works Notifications

Project Newsletters

Quarterly newsletters to update you on what's happening.

1 Million Man Hours Milestone

More than one million hours of work completed on the Cairns Water Security project since work began.
More than $100 million invested in local suppliers to support local economic growth.
More than 80 per cent of the 1,100-strong workforce live locally in Cairns.
25.2 kilometres of pipeline installed and major infrastructure work is underway at the water treatment plant.

The Albanese and Crisafulli Government are continuing to deliver renewed water security to the Cairns Region with the Cairns Water Security Stage 1 project having reached a significant milestone.

More than one million hours of work has been completed towards delivering a new drinking water supply for the Cairns community, since project construction began in July 2024.

Jointly funded through the National Water Grid Fund by the Albanese Government and the Crisafulli Government and delivered in partnership with Cairns Regional Council, the project is continuing to have positive impacts on the region during construction.

Of the more than 1,100 people who have contributed to the project, more than 80 per cent of the workforce hail from the Cairns region and are working hard to grow the local economy to drive down the cost of living.

The project has already invested more than $100 million into the region’s economy through 140 local suppliers, delivering materials for the pipeline, water treatment plant, and associated infrastructure for Queensland’s future.

Strong construction progress continues, with more than 25km of the new 30km distribution network now installed. Works to deliver the water intake at the Mulgrave River, water treatment plant and water reservoirs are all well underway.

Major construction on the $472 million project is expected to be completed by mid-2026 with commissioning activities to follow, weather permitting.

Read the full media release via One million reasons to celebrate as the Cairns Water Security project reaches another significant milestone - Ministerial Media Statements

Progress Images

Water Treatment Plant Progress - June 2025

Jones Road Site Progress - September 2025

Thrust Bore - Jones Road - November 2025

50% Milestone

Halfway Into the Project Milestone

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

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.

Learn More

Learn about the Cairns Water Security Stage 1 project

Bruce Highway On-ramp Update

The Bruce Highway southbound on-ramp at Pine Creek–Yarrabah Road will remain closed until the end of June 2026.

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Feburary Newsletter out now!

Check out the latest project news and updates

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Big progress on the Cairns Water Security Project!

Momentum is building in the new year, with crews completing all roof sheeting on the 5ML reservoir, another major milestone ticked off.

Today also marked another standout moment on site, with our heaviest lift to date safely completed as the 28-tonne generator was installed. It was also the busiest day for cranes activity on site so far, a real snapshot of the scale and activity behind this project.

Once the treatment plant is operational, this generator will act as a backup power source, capable of powering the entire plant for three days using fuel stored on site. With refuelling, it has the capacity to keep the plant operating indefinitely, ensuring continuity of water treatment when it’s needed most.

💡 Fun fact: Weighing almost 28 tonnes (about the same as a fully loaded city bus), the generator is housed in a modified 40-foot shipping container and has its own 26,500-litre fuel cell.

There’s a lot happening behind the scenes, even if you can’t see it from the highway, and this is just one of many steps in building critical infrastructure for Cairns’ future.

Acknowledgement of Country

Funding acknowledgement

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

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

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

FAQs

How much water will Council be taking from the Mulgrave River?

Will the CWSS1 project be taking water from the Mulgrave aquifer?

How much does CWSS1 cost and how much are ratepayers going to pay?

Why are trees being removed?

Are all the trees in the area being removed?

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

About the CWSS1 Project