Toowoomba Regional Council's Water and Waste Committee has recommended the fast-tracking of a program to undertake enhancement works on the Mt Kynoch Water Treatment Plant.
Water and Waste Committee Chair Rebecca Vonhoff said this was an important step to ensure the current and future water needs of those connected to the Toowoomba Water Bulk Supply were met.
"Water is our number one priority at Council and the Mt Kynoch Water Treatment Plant is a crucial component in the delivery of a safe and reliable water supply to our residents," she said.
"To ensure Council continues this service to the community, Council will call for Expressions of Interest to facilitate the fast-tracking of the delivery of enhancement works through an early contractor involvement tender process.
"Given the age of the treatment plant, a key objective of the project is to develop and deliver a scope that provides value for money outcomes for Council, whilst minimising the operational risk and maintaining service continuity during construction.
"Built in 1975, the existing plant has already had a number of upgrades and maintenance carried out with the site expected to meet its capacity limit by 2022.
"To undertake these works, Council has committed $3 million in this financial year's budget to begin a project which is expected to cost about $19.5 million over three years.
"The treatment plant is just one part of Council's broader suite of works to provide all our residents with potable water throughout the Toowoomba Region."
If approved at the Ordinary Meeting of Council on 22 October 2020, Council will move to the next stage of this process by calling for Expressions of Interest to facilitate this work.
