Towers’ Water Park project to recommence construction

Charters Towers Regional Council has announced that building works on the Water Park are set to recommence within the next couple of months after works had to be placed on hold.

Building works were stopped after more extensive excavation works were required due to unsuitable material and testing showed low-level lead contamination.

Mayor Frank Beveridge said although building works had been stopped, the project continued to move forward.

“When we started excavation back in May it was determined that we had to go a lot deeper than expected due to unsuitable soil.  Unfortunately, this deeper excavation revealed some low-level lead contamination within the soil.

“Council contacted the Department of Environment and Science to put a plan in place to treat the material to allow the project to move forward.

“Due to the land use being for the future park, Council must undertake more intensive works which includes full removal of the contaminated soil.

“Council identified that some of the contaminated soil had been moved to several private properties by the subcontractor which will also need to be removed.

“We’ve looked at a few different options which included remediation on site, moving the material to the Stubley Street Landfill and moving the material to the Townsville Landfill at Vantassel Street, Stuart.  The first two options were considered unviable or not permitted, and the third option was costed at over $1M.

“Fortunately, we were given another option as the site is located on a current mining lease. After further testing revealed low levels of gold, the material was classed as a resource,” said the Mayor. 

In cooperation with Ravenswood Gold and Citigold, the necessary permits were put in place with the Department of Environment and Science and the Department of Resources to transfer the mining lease from Citigold to the Ravenswood Gold processing plant under an amended Environmental Authority.

The works to move the material from the Water Park site and private properties commenced on 29 September 2021 and is expected to take until the end of November.

Funding for the Water Park through the Federal Governments Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program has been extended to 30 June 2022.

Council is currently working with the Queensland Government Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning to extend their funding through the Works for Queensland program.

“At this point, we don’t know the additional costs associated with the delay and removal of material but we’re anticipating the cost to be approximately $750,000 which will be funded from Council’s current budget savings or through the reserves.

“We’re excited to be able to move forward with this project and make it safe for the community. We look forward to opening the park in June 2022,” said Mayor Beveridge.

For more information about the Charters Towers Water Park, visit www.charterstowers.qld.gov.au/charters-towers-water-park.