THE Fraser Coast Regional Council has embarked on an extensive project to reline more than a dozen kilometres of local sewers over the next seven months.
The $2.45-million project will see some 14.2km of sewers that have had breaks, cracks and leaks detected being repaired.
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Division 9 Councillor David Lee said remotely operated cameras were used to identify parts of the network that required relining.
“The Fraser Coast Regional Council is focussed on ensuring we have resilient regional infrastructure that supports the current and future needs of our community,” Cr Lee said.
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As part of the project, Council will rehabilitate sewer mains in Torquay, Pialba, Urangan, Maryborough and Burrum Heads.
Works start this week and will continue until mid-December 2021.
“Relining via existing manholes allows Council to repair the sewers quickly and at a fraction of the cost of digging them up and replacing them,” Cr Lee explained.
“The majority of the work in Hervey Bay is being done in areas near the beach to reduce the amount of salt water entering the pipes through cracks and leaking joints.
“This is particularly important as the salt water affects the ability for treated effluent to be used for the irrigation of cane fields, turf farms and hardwood plantations.
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About 14.2km, or around two per cent of Council’s 674km of gravity sewers across the region, are being lined.
The new liners are winched into the sewer main and, once in place, steam from a truck mounted steam boiler is pushed into the liner to cure it.
Cr Lee said there would be some noise, traffic management and odour for short periods during the process.
“We thank everyone in advance for their patience and understanding,” he said.
