en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Cairns Regional Council is accelerating the repair of its two largest reservoirs, aiming to boost water storage capacity before the next wet season.
Contractors have moved in at the Bayview and Brinsmead reservoirs to carry out a AU$24 million project, which includes replacing the roofs of both reservoirs and undertaking internal lining repairs before returning them to service.
The two reservoirs were taken offline in mid-2024 for maintenance and refurbishment. During the construction process, it was discovered that the existing roofs had severely deteriorated and required complete replacement.
Cairns Regional Council Chief Executive Officer Ken Gouldthorp said both sites are being worked on simultaneously to accelerate the project's progress.
Completing a project of this scale requires a significant amount of scaffolding. By removing only half of each roof at a time, crews can dismantle and reposition scaffolding more efficiently, allowing work to continue on one site while the other is operational, thereby reducing downtime and keeping the project moving forward.
The new roofs will be primarily metal, which is lighter and more durable than the original concrete structures. The Council stated that the new design will reduce structural loads on the aging reservoir walls, helping to extend the lifespan of the assets.
Gouldthorp noted that returning the reservoirs to service before the next wet season remains a priority. Investing AU$24 million in critical roof replacement works will help secure water supply during treatment shutdowns caused by maintenance or heavy rain. In wetter months, heavy rain can cause turbid water that cannot be filtered through the system, requiring reliance on stored water from reservoirs until treatment resumes.
Over the past two years, significant efforts have effectively ensured a stable water supply, and the community has shown tremendous support by adhering to permanent water conservation measures and two temporary water restriction periods.
The project is part of the Council's Reservoir Emergent Works Program, with further investment expected to be allocated in the upcoming 2026–27 budget.
Engineering contractor John Holland has already been mobilized in the region through the Cairns Water Security Stage 1 project and has been engaged to carry out the roof replacement works. The Council is also progressing geotechnical investigations and preliminary design work for the replacement of the University 2 Reservoir, with a tender planned for late 2026. Replacing the existing 20ML University Reservoir, which is currently operating at reduced capacity due to ground movement affecting its structural integrity, remains a key component of Cairns' long-term water security strategy.
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