The Manton Dam Return to Service project
The Manton Dam Return to Service project has officially reached commissioning stage. Completion of this project marks one of the most significant water infrastructure developments in the Northern Territory in the past 50 years.
Coming in $15 million under budget at $174 million, this project is part of Stage 1 of the Darwin Region Water Supply Infrastructure Program led by the Department of Logistics and Infrastructure, jointly funded by the Australian Government with $300.6 million and the Northern Territory Government with $27 million.
The Manton Dam Return to Service project includes the modernisation of the existing reservoir intake tower, construction of the new Strauss Water Treatment Plant, a new pump station and 22 kilometres of new pipeline. Manton Dam will provide an additional 7,300ML of water each year, strengthening water security for the Darwin region.
A strong partnership between local contractors, Exact Civil and Power and Water Corporation, saw project construction also deliver significant local economic benefits, with more than 111 employees and 500 contractors engaged during the past 2 years, supporting local businesses and aligning with the Northern Territory Government’s Rebuilding the Economy Strategy.
Commissioning of the Strauss Water Treatment Plant is well underway, with water from Manton Dam expected to enter the network that delivers to the Darwin region by the end of 2026.
The Department of Lands, Planning and Environment coordinates National Water Grid funding proposals and supports project delivery across Northern Territory Government agencies. To date, the department, in partnership with the National Water Grid, has secured $530 million in funding for water security projects.
To read more about the Northern Territory’s water security investment projects, go to the Water Security website.
Senior Project Manager, Liam Early, highlighting upgrade works on the intake tower and the pipeline between Manton Dam and Strauss Water Treatment Plant.
