Securing an island’s fresh water supply for 50 years

Bolger Bay Water Pumping Station

Magnetic Island in Queensland’s tropical north may be surrounded by sparkling blue water, but without a desalinisation plant, that water is undrinkable. Instead, potable fresh water is pumped to the island from the mainland water supply of Townsville by the Bolger Bay pump station.

With a need to replace the aging pump station, we were engaged by Townsville City Council to provide design and working plans for the second stage of the main replacement at the Bolger Bay station. Our team completed a design that recommended suitable materials for the 1.8-kilometre pipeline to be robust and able to withstand saltwater exposure, hard soils, and hot tropical conditions for a projected lifetime of 50 years.

Magnetic Island is a popular island holiday destination for many communities in North Queensland. With secure water supplies, the island and its communities can continue to provide the services and holiday experiences locals and tourists seek.