LAST week, Mareeba Shire Council began demolishing the existing reservoir at Mason Road in Kuranda, to make room for a new 500kL reservoir in its place.
The planned works are part of the Kuranda Suburban Water Security Project, which will see the construction of two additional drinking water reservoirs to improve water security.
Mayor Tom Gilmore said the critical project would ensure that appropriate water capacity is held in the Warril Drive and Mason Road reservoirs.
“This critical project will provide a secure water supply to businesses and residents, and fire-fighting capacity in emergency situations,” Cr Gilmore said.
“The current water reservoirs only hold a limited supply, and these new tanks will provide a significantly better reserve supply.”
He said the new reservoir at Mason Road is almost complete, and once the second reservoir is completed by November 2017, they would add an additional 650 kilolitres to residents’ drinking water supply.
The project is funded through a $650,000 grant from the Queensland Government’s Building our Regions Program, with the remainder funded by Mareeba Shire Council.