Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
(Left to Right) – Wiliam Weaver – Sunwater General Manager of Operations, Dale and Aaron Elphinstone – Sunwater Operations Manager. Photo supplied.
A new $1.3 million water treatment plant is now fully operational in Clare, replacing the township’s 40-year-old facility and providing increased capacity and reliability for the community’s drinking water supply.
The Sunwater facility was officially commissioned on July 10 following the completion of a multi-year upgrade project, replacing the previous plant after it reached the end of its service life.
The upgraded facility can treat up to 400 kilolitres of water per day and features improved monitoring systems, allowing Sunwater staff to remotely track operations and identify potential issues before failures occur.
Minister for Natural Resources and Member for Burdekin Dale Last said the project would help ensure Clare residents continued to have access to a reliable drinking water supply.
“Every Queenslander deserves access to a safe and secure drinking water, and the new treatment plant ensures locals will continue to receive high-quality water for their families and businesses,” Mr Last said.
“Projects like this strengthen water security and help ensure communities such as Clare have the infrastructure they need to thrive and grow.”
The plant treats raw water drawn from the Burdekin River through a multi-stage process incorporating filtration, ultraviolet disinfection and chlorine dosing before distribution to the township.
Sunwater Burdekin Whitsunday Operations Manager Aaron Elphinstone said the facility will improve operational efficiency and reliability.
“Sunwater partnered with specialised water treatment contractors Protex Water and Jacobs to deliver a modern facility that improves operational efficiency and reliability for our customers,” Mr Elphinstone said.
“The plant can be monitored and operated remotely and includes an innovative electro-chlorination system that produces disinfectant on site, removing the need to transport and store bulk chemicals for safer and more productive operations.”
Construction was carried out alongside the existing plant while it remained operational, ensuring Clare’s water supply continued uninterrupted throughout the works.
The project also provided work opportunities for contractors and suppliers from the Burdekin and Townsville regions, who contributed to civil, electrical, plumbing, concrete and materials supply works.
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