New pipeline provides reliable water to Mount Morgan after years of drought

Government representatives announced the completion of an $88 million water pipeline that delivers treated water from a Rockhampton reservoir to the town of Mount Morgan in Queensland.

The project ends a period of severe water insecurity for the community, which previously relied on domestic rainwater tanks and the No 7 Dam. During a severe drought in 2021, the No 7 Dam dropped to 10 per cent capacity.

This forced the Rockhampton Regional Council to truck water into the town at a cost of $17,000 a day while residents faced maximum level-6 water restrictions for three years. The new pipeline allows the local dam to transition to recreational use and provides a stable supply for local businesses, the hospital, and residents. While Mount Morgan residents celebrate the new infrastructure, other regional towns in Queensland continue to struggle with aging systems and low reservoir levels.

The Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council recently began shutting off water for 12 hours a day in Far North Queensland due to dangerously low levels. Queensland Minister for Water Ann Leahy said the government is listening to local councils as they work to address these ongoing infrastructure challenges and the difficulty of finding water engineers for regional areas.