Abigroup Secures Australian Pipeline Project

Australia-based Abigroup has secured a contract to build a pipeline from Melbourne to Geelong in the Australian state of Victoria.

The project involves a $900m investment, out of which the state government will fund $20m while the remaining will be borne by customers of Barwon Water, the regional urban water authority.

The 59km pipeline will link Geelong’s storage basins with Melbourne’s water supply network, which will become part of Victoria’s water grid, according to the government.

The underground pipeline will supply about 16 billion litres of water a year, half of the region’s current water usage.

The project, which is expected to be complete by 2011, will benefit more than 60 towns and suburbs across Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula and parts of the Surf Coast.