Drinking water in the Clare township has received a boost following a major infrastructure upgrade.

Sunwater has commissioned a new water treatment plant that will deliver a safe and reliable supply to the community for years to come.

The facility, which will replace the previous treatment plant that operated for 40 years, will maintain water quality and improve capacity.

Minister for Natural Resources and Member for Burdekin Dale Last said the $1.3 million upgrade is an important investment in Clare’s future.

“Every Queenslander deserves access to a safe and secure drinking water, and the new treatment plant ensures locals will continue to receive high-quality water for their families and businesses,” he said.

“Projects like this strengthen water security and help ensure communities such as Clare have the infrastructure they need to thrive and grow.”

The new facility treats raw water from the Burdekin River using a modern multi-stage process, incorporating advanced filtration, ultraviolet disinfection and chlorine dosing.

Sunwater Burdekin Whitsunday Operations Manager Aaron Elphinstone said the new plant delivers a treatment capacity of 400 kilolitres per day to support current and future demand.

“Sunwater partnered with specialised water treatment contractors Protex Water and Jacobs to deliver a modern facility that improves operational efficiency and reliability for our customers,” he said.

"The plant can be monitored and operated remotely and includes an innovative electro-chlorination system that produces disinfectant on site, removing the need to transport and store bulk chemicals for safer and more productive operations.

“Importantly, the plant was constructed alongside the existing facility while it remained operational, ensuring uninterrupted supply to the Clare community throughout the works.”

The project also provided job opportunities for locals, with contractors and suppliers from the Burdekin and Townsville contributing to cable locating, hydro-vac, plumbing, electrical, earthworks, concrete works and materials supply.