
First Nations water security
Location
Northern Peninsula Area, Far North Queensland
Qld
Estimated cost
$10 million
Project status
in planning
Funding
The project is funded by the Australian Government ($5,000,00) and the Queensland Government ($5,000,000). Australian Government Funding is provided through the National Water Grid Fund.

Drone view of Bamaga Water Treatment Plant. Image credit: Engineering and Project Services.
Project overview
This project will provide a safe, secure and reliable drinking water source for the Indigenous communities of:
- Bamaga
- Seisia
- New Mapoon
- Umagico and Injinoo.
Each of these communities receive water from the Bamaga water treatment plant (WTP).
The project will:
- upgrade the WTP in Bamaga
- replace asbestos cement pipelines in Bamaga and Seisia
- connect a new water main in New Mapoon.
Investigation works will be undertaken to confirm the design. The project will then construct the water pre-treatment infrastructure of the WTP. Pending the preliminary investigation outcomes, construction works to be undertaken include:
- pre-treatment upgrades
- upgrade in filtration membranes
- conversion of filtration system from high-pressure to low pressure
- an enhanced Clean-In-Place system
- a new UV disinfection unit
- replacing approximately 1.4 km of AC pipeline in Bamaga
- replacing approximately 1 km of AC pipeline in Seisia
- connections of new water mains in New Mapoon.
Key project benefits
First Nations access
Local community
Water quality
Water security
Read more
- See the Minister’s project announcement
- Read about the Government’s commitment to Closing the Gap
- Learn more about arrangements for First Nations projects