The Boyne Island Reservoir (BIR) has undergone an extensive refurbishment and repair works to extend the life of a vital water asset.
Constructed in 1980, the reservoir can hold up to eight megalitres of water and has supplied treated water to the Gladstone Regional Council for distribution to the Boyne Island and Tannum Sands residential and industrial water network since it’s construction and commissioning.
Remediation and restoration works were needed to keep the ageing asset in tip-top shape to extend its working life and avoid the unnecessary expense of asset replacement, while ensuring the structure and surrounding site is kept up to date with modern work, health and safety standards.
The reservoir’s roof was replaced with a new colourbond roof after strengthening works to the roof parapet, beams, cleats and supports to ensure the structure can withstand extreme weather events including cyclones in the future.
The restoration project scope of works included repairs to the structure’s internal concrete walls, columns and floor, which had deteriorated after decades of exposure to soft, treated water. These works required the reservoir to be emptied (de-watered) to allow safe access for our crews.
The internal structures were then re-coated and re-sealed with cementitious grout, and thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before the reservoir was refilled with fresh, clean treated water from the Gladstone Water Treatment Plant.
With the reservoir and surrounding pipework needing to be offline after being drained of water, GAWB worked closely with the council to coordinate and plan an integrated works schedule to enable the refurbishment works to happen without causing supply disruptions for residents and customers living throughout the Boyne Island and Tannum Sands region.
Many thanks to the council for its support and commitment to providing water security for the community via an auxiliary water supply from its Lilly Hills Reservoir while the GAWB reservoir was offline and non-operational during construction works.
As part of the project’s safety upgrades, worker access and entry points were improved with the installation of a new external, aluminium stairway to replace the existing vertical ladder access.
The works also included the installation of new flowmeters, and replacement of programmable logic controllers – which test for water quality and automate the reservoir’s water-replenishment system – and a new facilities outlet and bypass valve.
Additional ground works to the external area of the reservoir finalised the project’s scope, including soil excavation around the outer perimeter of the reservoir followed by covering and sealing with brand-new asphalt.
These improvement works will ensure that the Boyne Island Reservoir will remain in service for many years ahead, providing the community with safe, clean and reliable drinking water.