An $18.1 million investment has been announced to upgrade critical water infrastructure in the Gulf Country, aiming to provide a reliable, year-round water supply for residents across Carpentaria. This project includes the duplication of the raw water main servicing Normanton and Karumba, significantly improving water security in one of Queensland’s most remote regions.
The infrastructure upgrades will safeguard access to clean and safe drinking water, even during flooding events, while also future-proofing the system to accommodate growing tourism demands in the area. A key feature of the project is the installation of a raw water irrigation network, which will supply untreated water to local businesses and public spaces, reducing pressure on the Normanton Water Treatment Plant.
In addition, the project will address ageing infrastructure, ensuring a consistent supply of untreated water to local treatment facilities, supporting both residential and industrial growth in the region. The funding for this initiative comes from the $450 million Queensland Resilience and Risk Reduction Program, the state’s flagship disaster mitigation effort, financed through efficiencies under the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
The improved access to quality drinking water is expected to have a transformative impact on Carpentaria residents and the increasing number of visitors to the Gulf region. Both the Queensland and Australian Governments have reaffirmed their commitment to investing in reconstruction and resilience projects to better prepare for the challenges posed by increasingly severe weather events.
