Rymer outlines major upgrades after declaring water as ‘national priority’

The government has launched a 12-month action plan aimed at overhauling the Territory’s water system, which officials say has suffered from decades of underinvestment and neglect.

The move comes months after the government had declared water a national critical priority, allowing it to bypass provisions of the Procurement Act when purchasing materials needed to address the territory’s deteriorating water infrastructure.

Works Minister Kye Rymer said his ministry has moved from planning to implementation, with teams now engaged in major infrastructure works to reduce water loss, strengthen supply lines, and build a more reliable network across the Territory.

Operators Without Borders, an international technical support team, has completed its assessment of the water infrastructure and deployed specialists to assist with installing high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipelines along the Ridge Road.

Rymer said around 3,000 linear feet of HDPE pipe have already been installed between the Diamond Estate Pump Station and the Montessori School gap, with additional work teams on the way.

“This team will assist in conducting a comprehensive hydrology study and provide additional training in leak detection and repair techniques to strengthen the capacity of the Water and Sewerage Department,” Rymer stated. He added that the collaboration marks “another significant phase in modernising the Territory’s water network and ensuring the long-term reliability of our system.”

The Ministry of Communications and Works’ action plan focuses on five main areas: infrastructure and system upgrades, reservoir security and site accessibility, system monitoring and control, metering and network expansion, and asset mapping and system review.

Rymer acknowledged the scale of the challenge, noting that many parts of the water system have deteriorated beyond use. “The system we are rebuilding has suffered from decades of underinvestment and degradation. Replacing and modernising these critical components takes time due to procurement, shipping, and installation requirements,” he explained.

He said that of the 25 pressure-reducing valves currently installed, only 14 are operational, and of the 19 pump stations, just eight are functioning. “This underscores the scale of the challenge we face,” Rymer said. Orders have been placed for new parts, and installation will begin once they arrive.

The Minister further noted that leak detection work cannot fully proceed until the replacement components are received, as “leaks must be repaired immediately once identified to prevent further water loss.”

Meanwhile, the ministry is advancing work on reservoirs across the Territory to ensure they can efficiently store and distribute water once the upgrades are completed.