- Client: Shared Services Procurement
- Value: $8.0M
- Completion date: October 2013
Overview
The Inner North Reticulation Project was a major water infrastructure initiative based in Canberra, designed to deliver sustainable recycled water solutions across several northern suburbs including Hackett, Dickson, Lyneham, and Mitchell. The project spans approximately 14 kilometres of recycled watermain. This network supplies recycled water to high-demand public facilities such as schools, golf courses, and recreational spaces, supporting Canberra’s broader environmental and water conservation goals.
Construction involved the use of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe, with diameters reaching up to 500mm. All pipe sections were welded onsite to ensure structural integrity and long-term performance. To minimise disruption to urban environments and reduce the need for surface restoration, over two kilometres of the pipeline was installed using under boring techniques. Several of these trenchless segments extended beyond 300 metres in length, allowing the project to avoid open trenching in sensitive or high-traffic areas.
A key feature of the project was the drilling of a 60-metre borehole within Exhibition Park, Canberra. This bore accessed an underground aquifer, providing a reliable supplementary water source for the reticulation system. The network is anchored by a pump station and filtration facility located in Mitchell, which manages water pressure, quality, and distribution across the system. Measured outlet points were constructed in large pits, enabling precise monitoring and control of water flow to end users.
The project required careful navigation through active public areas, demanding a high level of coordination and safety management to minimise impact on the community. Despite these challenges, the Inner North Reticulation Project stands as a model of sustainable urban infrastructure, combining technical innovation with environmental stewardship to deliver long-term benefits to Canberra’s residents and public spaces.
