The Gladstone Area Water Board expects to release more than $9.5 million worth of tenders this financial year for projects including a new fish hatchery and works on the Kirkwood Pump Station.

GAWB owns and operates Awoonga Dam on the Boyne River along with a network of delivery pipelines, water treatment plants and other bulk water distribution infrastructure in the Gladstone region.

GAWB chief operating officer John Tumbers will be highlighting future GAWB projects at the GEA Major Industry Conference at the Gladstone Entertainment and Convention Centre on October 12.

The conference will cover a number of projects within the construction industry, such as the Gladstone Integrated Health Precinct and Gladstone Ports Corporation’s East Shores Stage 1B project, as well as resource industry opportunities.

Mr Tumbers said GAWB’s goal was to support local companies tendering for work, with a combined total of $9.5 million worth of work set to go to the market this financial year.

“This comprises of a projected $5.5 million in major construction for a new fish hatchery, works on the Kirkwood Pump Station and corrosion protection for Curtis Island reservoirs,” he said.

“Of the remainder, $3 million will go to minor construction and maintenance across the GAWB water supply network and another $1 million in front end engineering and design for future capital works.”

GAWB’s capital program commitment this financial year is about $35 million, including $20 million for its Offline Storage Facility – a small dam being constructed at the Toolooa Bends (O’Connell).

“GAWB supplies water from Lake Awoonga and, depending on the season, 60 per cent to 80 per cent of that is raw water direct to industry and the remainder is treated and supplied to the Gladstone Regional Council who then sell it on to residents,” Mr Tumbers said.

“The Offline Water Storage Facility will provide two weeks of water supply in the event of unforeseen circumstances, particularly around storm season, as well as allow us to do major maintenance works at Awoonga Dam where the infrastructure is approaching the 30-year-old mark and we need to shut it down for more than five days to perform the work.”

Construction of the Offline Water Storage Facility was awarded to Gladstone firm Golding Contractors who began works earlier this year, with a scheduled completion of October 2018.