Northern Pipeline Interconnector, Stage 3
To support a safe, reliable and resilient water supply for South East Queensland into the future, Seqwater is planning a new underground bulk water pipeline from North Pine to Morayfield to enable more water to be transferred between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast when needed
About the project
The northern sub-region of South East Queensland, which includes the Sunshine Coast, Moreton Bay, and Noosa council areas, is experiencing rapid population growth, urban expansion, and increasing economic activity.
To support long-term water supply and security for the northern communities, Seqwater is planning for improvements to the SEQ Water Grid, including a new bulk water pipeline.
The proposed underground pipeline, called NPI-3, will extend from North Pine Water Treatment Plant to Morayfield and include additional reservoirs and pump stations to store and move water around the Grid.
NPI-3 represents stage three of the existing Northern Pipeline Interconnector (NPI), the bi-directional bulk water pipeline which connects Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast. This final stage will enhance the capacity and flexibility of the pipeline.
Project scope
Thee proposed scope includes:
- NPI-3 Pipeline – An approximately 17-km underground pipeline from Morayfield to North Pine Water Treatment Plant
- Narangba Reservoir – A new reservoir at Narangba
- Narangba Pump Station – A new pump station at the Narangba reservoir site to help pump water north
- North Pine Pump Station – A new pump station at the existing North Pine Water Treatment Plant to help pump water north
- Northern Storages – Two additional network storage reservoirs and associated connecting infrastructure at Ferntree and Eudlo
The project scope and design are subject to change, pending final approvals.
Project status
A Detailed Business Case (DBC) is underway and expected to be completed in early 2027. This phase includes site investigations and field work, environmental and cultural heritage investigations and approvals, and further refinement of the project scope and design.
Contact the team
If you have any questions about the project, please see the project FAQs below, or get in contact with the project team.
- Phone us 07 3432 7000 (during business hours)
- Email us [email protected]
- Complete the Online feedback form
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What is the existing Northern Pipeline Interconnector (NPI)?
The NPI is a bi-directional bulk water pipeline which connects the central and northern sub-regions of SEQ. Over 95 km long, the pipeline system, along with its associated pump stations and balancing storages, was developed in multiple stages. NPI- 1 (Stage 1) was completed in 2008, during the height of the millennium drought, followed by NPI-2 (Stage 2) in 2011. You can view these assets on our map of the SEQ Water Grid. NPI-3, the final stage, will enhance the capacity and flexibility of the pipeline.
Where will the NPI-3 pipeline be located?The exact route of the pipeline is yet to be determined. However, the pipeline will need to extend from the North Pine Water Treatment Plant to Morayfield to address the current bottleneck in the system and support future demand. It is expected that the route will mainly utilise existing power corridors, some road corridors and some private land. Investigations to determine a preferred alignment will be undertaken during the Detailed Business Case stage.
Our team is committed to engaging with potentially impacted landowners as the project progresses.
When will construction start?Pending further approvals, construction could begin from 2030. Our team will be able to provide further information, including construction timings, following completion of the Detailed Business Case.
What will the community impacts be during construction?Every possible effort is made to minimise the impact to the local community throughout the project lifecycle. It is expected that neighbours of the pipeline and other infrastructure will experience some impacts when construction work commences, including traffic disruptions, dust and noise.
We understand the community is interested in any potential impacts, and we will continue to keep the community updated as the project progresses.
What will the environmental and cultural heritage impacts be?Environmental and cultural heritage considerations are an important part of the planning process for all Seqwater projects. As part the environmental considerations for the project, we will work with regulatory bodies at Commonwealth and Queensland government levels to ensure all practicable steps are taken to manage any possible impacts to the environment.
We also work closely with local landcare groups and traditional owners of the land and seek to continue these partnerships and tradition of stewardship as we progress our planning. We are committed to helping shape healthy catchments and environments at our sites for generations to come.
