Water pipeline extension project brings jobs to Townsville

A new water pipeline extension project has brought dozens of new jobs to Townsville, where the unemployment rate is sitting at a concerning 8.5 percent, which is 2.5 percent higher than the Queensland average.

The Haughton Pipeline Duplication Project was instigated after the Townsville City Council recognised the need to extend the existing 36-kilometre pipeline in order to provide long-term water security to the area, allocating a record infrastructure spend of $159 million to the project.

The pipeline development is expected to create more than 50 jobs over the full construction period, with an extensive range of roles to fill.

Extrastaff, a specialist on-hire labour company, have placed several workers on the project through local company Killmier Transport.

“I’d been out of work for nearly two months when Ash [an Extrastaff representative] contacted me, and now the pipeline project has guaranteed me consistent work for the next 10 months,” says Chris Pearce, one of the forklift operators placed on the project by Extrastaff.

“Extrastaff have treated me so well during this process, and I’m really enjoying the new role.”

“Townsville is struggling for jobs right now, and it’s really comforting to have work lined up in that kind of environment,” he said.

Extrastaff Branch Manager for Townsville, Kim Martin, says the organisation is committed to increasing opportunities for locals during a time of high unemployment.

“It’s not just about getting people into jobs – it’s about training and upskilling every individual that we contract,” said Ms Martin.
“We want to ensure the Townsville workforce, and the community, are sustainable and competitive.”

The Queensland State Government has also contributed $225 million over four years to assist in the pipeline development and creation of more employment opportunities. 

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