Expressions of Interest for installation and construction work on Townsville’s Haughton Pipeline Duplication project will open over the weekend (May 19-20).

Companies short-listed through the Expressions of Interest process will be invited to tender to work on installing the 36.5km of 1.8m diameter pipe to be used in the water pipeline.

Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said the installation and construction work packages would create a huge amount of jobs for locals.

“Digging trenches to install 36.5km of pipe is a massive job and it will require a lot of people working on site to complete,” Cr Hill said.

“This is the most important infrastructure project for Townsville City Council and we’re committed to creating as many local jobs as possible.

“We want local businesses to have the best opportunity possible to win a share of the work on the pipeline project.

“Council has tailored the work packages on the pipeline project to ensure that local small to medium sized businesses are able to secure work on the pipeline.”