Growth Stories

Nupol Composites supports major Australian water infrastructure projects

Northern Australia’s growing population, the impact of climate change and the worst drought in recorded history have led to unprecedented demand on South Eastern Queensland’s water supplies.

To ensure future supply security, the Queensland State Government has undertaken the largest urban drought response in Australia through the development of what is known as the South East Queensland Water Grid.

This A$9.0 billion project consists of a new desalination plant on the Gold Coast and a network of pipes to transfer drinking and recycled water from the region’s dams to consumers. Once complete, the grid will deliver around 350,000 mega litres of additional water every year.

Nupol Composites has participated in this project through its close relationship with Fibrelogic Pipe Systems in Adelaide, South Australia. Fibrelogic uses a state-of-the-art continuous filament winding process to produce GRP (glass reinforced plastic) pipes. Fibrelogic’s Flowtite GRP pipe is produced to the highest standards of quality and functionality and is exhaustively tested before installation. Flowtite GRP pipe was selected for the South East Queensland Water Grid due to its long-term durability, its reliability under constant high pressure conditions and its proven non-corrosive properties.

Nupol Composites is the major supplier to Fibrelogic of unsaturated polyester resin, the key structural material which bonds glass and mineral reinforcements for strength and provides chemical resistance. The resin has been specially formulated to enable Fibrelogic to control their manufacturing process to ensure the pipe meets the stringent standards required for potable water. Unsaturated polyester resins are produced in Australia at Canning Vale, Western Australia and Wacol, Queensland where a major expansion process is currently under way. Nupol Composites’ high standards of quality and customer service are of paramount importance to Fibrelogic. They ensure security of supply and manufacturing uniformity.

Fibrelogic has provided a major portion of the works for the South East Queensland Water Grid completed to date. Of the total planned pipeline length of 450km, Fibrelogic has already supplied 65km of pipe for the Western Corridor project and 32km of pipe for the Northern Pipeline Interconnector.

With drought an ever-present threat, there are many water infrastructure projects planned across Australia. Fibrelogic and Nupol Composites will continue to partner in ensuring continuous supply of Australia’s most precious commodity – water.