Toowoomba to Hodgson Vale Water Connection

Due to drought conditions causing supply issues for the Hodgson Vale area bores, Newlands Group were contracted by Toowoomba Regional Council to complete the design and construction of approximately 3km of DN300/ DN250/DN200 trunk water mains as well a reservoir to enable the connection of the Toowoomba water network to the Hodgson Vale water network.

The scope of works included:
• Design of the pipeline (including air, scour, isolation, pressure reducing valves)
• Design of the reservoir (including tanks control valves, level sensor and telemetry)
• Excavation, bedding. laying, backfilling of the pipe trench within the road reserve
• Construction of a reservoir site including retaining walls and two 250KL stainless steel reservoir tanks
• Construction of one pressure reducing valve assembly
• Hydrostatic and bacterial testing of the pipeline
• Connection of the new trunk water main to existing infrastructure at three locations
• RPEQ certification of works

The project involved several significant challenges including:
• Constructing the new trunk water main through areas of rock
• Constant stakeholder management with property owners, business owners, emergency services, bus services, etc
• Undertaking a road closure to a major road located near the university
• Construction around live services and undertaking live connection works
• Constructing the new trunk water main in limited access areas within the road reserve

Newlands overcame these challenges through methodical planning, careful and constant stakeholder management, and undertaking works over weekends to minimise traffic disruption. Additionally, innovative construction techniques were employed during live connection works, where the connection to the existing trunk main was completed with a live tap. This approach allowed the trunk main to remain in service during works, resulting in only a minimal amount of water loss.

Overall, Newlands worked collaboratively with Toowoomba Regional Council to successfully deliver a project that will provide water security for the growing Hodgson Vale area for many years to come