Construction of the Ravenshoe and Millstream Water Quality Improvement Project is one of the largest and most complex projects delivered by Tablelands Regional Council (TRC), at a cost of around $18m. The project has been proudly funded through Queensland Government’s ‘Works for Queensland’ program, Local Government grants and subsidies, and ‘Building Our Regions Program’ in collaboration with Tablelands Regional Council.
The project deals with the design and construction of a high-capacity Water Treatment Facility in Ravenshoe, and almost 13 km of new pipeline connecting Millstream to the Ravenshoe water supply scheme. It also includes upgrades to the Millstream Reservoir facilities.
When operating at full functionality, the facility is expected to have an impressive daily treatment capacity of 2.779 megalitres and will consistently provide compliant fresh drinking water to the Ravenshoe and Millstream communities, averting the need for future ‘boil water notices’.
Drinking water treatment plants of this nature involve highly complex design and construction considerations and need to be able to perform under all conditions. In this case, the plant also needs to be able to treat water from two different sources (Millstream and North Cedar Creek) with dramatically varying incoming water qualities throughout the year due to our severe seasonal weather conditions here in Far North Queensland.
The TRC Water and Waste team have met with community periodically from the commencement of the project through to the physical completion of the infrastructure to provide updates on the progress of the project and to explain some of the hurdles and delays encountered.
Project update 23 February 2026
This massive project is now in its final stage. The new pipeline is now in place, and the plant and related infrastructure has all been constructed. The final stage involves proof of performance testing and water quality compliance testing. This testing is essential to confirm the plant will be able to supply safe and compliant drinking water to the community consistently, in most adverse weather conditions.
Testing of this nature is a regulatory requirement. The Queensland Government, as the drinking water regulator, will not approve the provision of treated water to the community until test results confirm the plant can consistently produce safe drinking water.
Due to the complexity of plant operations, the challenge of treating water from different sources, and the need to test the plant under different weather and water quality conditions, final testing is a long and involved process. There must be multiple rounds of testing under varied conditions, to confirm the plant performs to specification and water supply meets required quality standards.
There have been several initial rounds of testing over past months. Results to date have not yet demonstrated the level of consistency required and this is to be expected for new plant and equipment of this scale. After each round, multiple adjustments are made to operating settings as well as adjustments for the chemicals used for treating the water to make it safe.
It is not yet possible to confirm an exact date the plant will come online, however TRC and the contractor are working together to ensure this happens as soon as practically achievable. TRC will not bring the plant online until testing confirms water supplied is safe to drink.
This project commenced in May 2023, and as often happens with projects of this scale and complexity, there have been obstacles and delays throughout construction, including equipment shipping, weather delays and environmental complications requiring design changes to optimise operation.
It is very exciting to have reached this final stage of a project that will make such a profound positive difference for residents in the Ravenshoe and Millstream region.
Images © Joseph Estrada, GHD; HEH Civil and TRC.
$10.7M capital works project over two years
The Johnstone River and Peeramon water supply scheme were connected to the Malanda water supply scheme to accommodate the rapid growth in the area. The project included design and construction of a 3.19ML reservoir on Glen Allyn Road, and a 4km pipeline from the reservoir to the existing reservoir on Mathers Road.
Fgf Developments Pty Ltd was awarded the contract for the project for $8,326,977.55 including GST. The contract includes additional expenditure of up to $889,057.82 including GST for additional items that may be required during construction, and a contingency allowance of $1,249,046.63 for variations.
The pipeline was constructed on the road verge on the:
- east side of Eccles Road
- north side of Mundey Road
- east and southeast side of Lake Barrine Road
- Pioneer Avenue
- north side of Glen Allyn Road
The pipeline and reservoir were completed in August.
Calibration of bulk meters and installation of level monitors to meet regulatory requirements. Due for completion in 2025–26.
Service lines (from water mains to meters) are being replaced as part of an ongoing program.
Ongoing capital works projects
Upgrades to pipelines, water meters and pumps across the region as required.
The reservoirs in our region have been assessed and remediation plans are being developed. Options are being investigated for the replacement of reservoirs at Wondecla (High Country Estate) and Mount Garnet.
The Twelfth Avenue reservoir work includes replacement of joint seals, crack injections and concrete repair. Work commenced in early April and the reservoir has been cleaned and the crack injection completed. Resealing work is complete and the sealant is curing. Once complete it will be cleaned, filled, tested and brought back online.
Images © Matthew Driver.
New gravity-fed system and pump station.