Council work a catalyst for manufacturing plans

Iplex Australia says it will start manufacturing glass reinforced polyester (GRP) pipe fittings in Townsville and reopen its polyethylene (PE) pipe plant in the city on the back of council water infrastructure commitments. The company has been awarded the contract to supply pipe for Stage 1 of the Townsville City Council's Haughton Pipeline Duplication project after a competitive tender process. Iplex Australia general manager Nicole Sumich said the company was delighted to partner with the council and local contractors to help guarantee Townsville’s future water security and boost local employment. “The FLOWTITE® GRP pipe and fittings technology we will be using for this project is supplied by our partner RPC Pipe Systems (RPC PS), and provides a sophisticated solution," she said. "It has been in use for over 40 years and manufactured at their Adelaide site since 2007, but is relatively new technology for Townsville and North Queensland. "This technology is lightweight, safe, easy and fast to install, and will deliver meaningful installation and running cost savings over the life of the project, in addition to being the best value for money choice." Iplex Australia general manager Nicole Sumich with Townsvillle Mayor Jenny Hill. Ms Sumich said up to 20 people would be employed locally to manufacture the GRP fittings, as well as additional project management personnel. “In addition to being awarded this tender, and off the back of increased demand for polyethylene (PE) pipe products in north Queensland, we are today announcing we will also be reopening our Townsville PE plant," she said. "This will provide employment for up to a further 16 people, who will help us make high-quality, reliable piping for use in a broader range of commercial and infrastructure projects across the region. “The water pipe project and PE plant reopening combined will also stimulate further indirect employment of between 15 and 20 local people." Mayor Jenny Hill said jobs were already being created on the pipeline project and even more would flow when civil works commenced in coming months. “Shortly Iplex will re-commence manufacturing at its Bohle facility, creating more than 50 direct and indirect jobs,” Cr Hill said. “And we can expect hundreds more jobs to be created when civil works commence in the coming months. “This is one of the biggest infrastructure projects in Townsville and it will create a huge number of jobs for locals.” Cr Hill said the council was committed to having the new pipeline built by the end of 2019 as a key plank of its $225 million 3-point water solution. This includes: The new 1.8-metre diameter pipeline A recycled water system for community spaces and industrial use The Community Water Transition Support Package

Council work a catalyst for manufacturing plans

Industry Queensland

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