SECURING EVERY DROP
SECURING EVERY DROP As the backbone of heavy industry in Central Queensland, Gladstone Area Water Board is leading the delivery of a Queensland Government investment in long-term water security, community development, and economic resilience. We speak with Darren Barlow, CEO, to learn more Writer: Lily Sawyer | Project Manager: Eddie Clinton
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GLADSTONE AREA WATER BOARD ENERGY & UTILITIES
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aving evolved significantly over the years, Australia’s bulk water sector is no longer about simply delivering a reliable water supply. Today’s providers must plan for population growth, climate variability, changing industrial demand, and increasing expectations around sustainability and environmental stewardship. As such, one of the biggest
opportunities for those operating in this space is taking a longerterm approach to water security – something Gladstone Area Water Board (GAWB) has been doing since its inception in 1973. “Because water is so crucial in our region, we cannot have our dam run out. In the last 50-odd years, we have never not supplied water,” opens Darren Barlow, CEO. GAWB owns and operates the
critical bulk water infrastructure which underpins industries, contributing more than AUD$6 billion annually to the Queensland economy. Its customers include Gladstone Regional Council, major industrial users, and local power generators. “We’re a very different business because of our specific customer base and the economic value attached to our network,” Barlow insights. APAC Outlook Issue 81 | 3
Safe Sustainable Solutions for Deadline Driven Customers Please introduce us to Roadpak and the services you provide. RoadPak Industries was established in 1999 in Gladstone, Central Queensland, where our head office remains today. Over the past 25 years, we have grown from a local civil contractor into a trusted delivery partner, completing projects across the majority of Queensland. With a highly skilled team of approximately 40 people, RoadPak delivers practical, reliable civil construction solutions for water corporations, local and state government, and Tier 1 and Tier 2 civil contractors and builders. Our core capabilities include pipelines and utilities, bulk earthworks, roads, drainage, site preparation, and a broad range of civil construction works.
Supported by specialist plant and equipment and strong in-house project delivery capability, RoadPak is equipped to respond efficiently to projects of varying scale and complexity. From essential water infrastructure and public works to major construction support, we bring the experience, flexibility, and handson expertise required to deliver quality outcomes safely, efficiently, and on schedule.
What, for you, sets RoadPak apart from the rest? What truly differentiates RoadPak is our people. We invest heavily in our team, skills, and culture because we know that a capable, connected workforce is the foundation of every successful project. This
approach enables us to achieve more with a lean, highly effective team — without compromising safety, quality, or delivery. Combined with our specialist plant and equipment, our in-house capability gives RoadPak the versatility to respond quickly to changing client needs. Rather than depending on multiple external providers, we can mobilise the right people, resources, and equipment efficiently, maintain control over delivery, and provide practical solutions when challenges arise. Ultimately, it is this combination of strong culture, experienced people, and selfsufficient operational capability that sets RoadPak apart: a responsive, reliable civil construction partner that can deliver more, with confidence.
How does RoadPak ensure reliable civil construction from start to finish for its customers? RoadPak ensures reliable civil construction from start to finish by combining more than 25 years of Queensland industry experience with an integrated, in-house delivery model. Rather than relying on multiple contractors across a project, RoadPak manages the key stages itself — including land clearing, bulk earthworks, detailed excavation, drainage, utility installation, concreting, and final site preparation. This provides clearer accountability, better coordination, and stronger control of programme, budget, and quality. Every project is supported by experienced project managers who oversee planning, sequencing, site activity, and delivery milestones. RoadPak’s ISO-accredited management systems also underpin its approach to quality, safety, and environmental responsibility, helping ensure work is completed compliantly and consistently.
For customers, this means a dependable partner able to anticipate site challenges, respond efficiently to changing conditions, and maintain momentum from the first mobilisation through to project completion. Whether delivering major infrastructure, public works, commercial development, or critical maintenance, RoadPak’s focus remains the same: safe, precise, and practical execution that keeps projects on track.
Could you elaborate on your partnership with Gladstone Area Water Board and how the two companies mutually benefit each other? RoadPak Industries and the Gladstone Area Water Board have worked in close collaboration for more than 20 years. Gladstone Area Water Board was one of RoadPak’s first government clients and remains one of our key customers today. The long-standing relationship has been built on trust, consistent performance, and a shared commitment to maintaining essential water infrastructure for the Gladstone community.
Over the years, RoadPak has delivered a range of contracts for the Gladstone Area Water Board, with the Pipeline Repair and Maintenance Contract remaining a cornerstone of the partnership. RoadPak has successfully retained this contract through each renewal since 2015, demonstrating the confidence Gladstone Area Water Board places in our people, systems, and ability to deliver under pressure. For Gladstone Area Water Board, RoadPak provides a known and trusted team that can be relied upon during critical maintenance works, urgent repairs, and time-sensitive shutdowns. Our experience in pipelines, utilities, excavation, drainage, and civil construction — together with our specialist plant and equipment — allows us to respond efficiently and manage work in-house. This is particularly important when protecting the continuity of the water supply and minimising disruption to the community.
In return, the relationship has provided RoadPak with the opportunity to grow our expertise in water services and develop a deep understanding of the operational, technical, and safety requirements associated with critical water infrastructure. Working alongside Gladstone Area Water Board has strengthened our capabilities, expanded our industry knowledge, and helped RoadPak evolve into a trusted civil construction partner for water authorities, government, and major contractors across Queensland. At its core, the partnership is mutually beneficial because it combines Gladstone Area Water Board’s responsibility for vital regional water assets with RoadPak’s practical delivery capability, responsive field team, and proven experience in maintaining essential infrastructure. We provide Gladstone Area Water Board with a known and trusted team they can rely on in their most critical times.
Are there any recent projects or investments that you would like to highlight? Recently, RoadPak Industries completed more than three kilometres of watermain replacement works across the Gladstone township for the Gladstone Regional Council. The project was an important opportunity to demonstrate the depth of our team’s experience in critical water infrastructure, from planning and excavation through to pipeline installation, reinstatement, and safe project completion. Delivering works within an active township requires careful coordination, strong safety systems, and a practical understanding of how to minimise disruption to residents, businesses, and essential services. Our team’s commitment to quality, safety, and efficient delivery was central throughout the project. The successful completion of these watermain upgrades reinforces RoadPak’s capability to deliver complex pipeline and utility works, whilst supporting the longterm reliability of Gladstone’s essential water network.
Looking ahead, what are RoadPak’s key priorities and goals? RoadPak Industries’ priorities are centred on the disciplined execution of our longterm growth strategy: expanding our capability and footprint across Queensland whilst continuing to deliver the reliable, high-quality outcomes our clients expect. Over the coming years, we aim to grow from a strong Central Queensland base into a broader Queensland utilities and civil construction partner, with particular focus on pipeline, water, drainage, and essential infrastructure projects. We see a significant
opportunity to build on our established experience in water services and apply that capability to more complex, larger-scale utility projects across the state. Importantly, this growth will be deliberate rather than growth for its own sake. That means continuing to invest in the right people, systems, plant, and commercial discipline before taking on larger or more complex work. Building our team is central to the plan. As client requirements and project scale increase, RoadPak will expand its project management, site supervision, estimating, engineering, and contract administration capabilities. Our goal is to ensure our people, systems, and capacity grow ahead of demand, allowing us to remain responsive while maintaining the hands-on, reliable service that has always differentiated RoadPak. Ultimately, RoadPak’s ambition is to become an even stronger, more capable civil and utilities contractor across Queensland — known for safe delivery, trusted relationships, disciplined project management, and the ability to deliver critical infrastructure from the ground up.
Head Office: 24 Morgan Street, Gladstone, QLD 4680 Head Office Number: (07) 4972 7002 Email: reception@roadpak.com.au roadpak.com.au
GLADSTONE AREA WATER BOARD ENERGY & UTILITIES
WHAT, FOR YOU, IS THE TRUE VALUE OF DELIVERING A PROJECT LIKE FGP? Darren Barlow, CEO: “FGP has always been about much more than constructing infrastructure; it’s about creating confidence in Gladstone’s future. “Projects of this scale are only possible through the support and collaboration of many people, including our project partners, Traditional Owners, landholders, local businesses, government, and employees. “I would like to acknowledge and thank everyone who contributed to delivering such an important legacy for the region.”
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“The development benefit and water security we provide is guaranteed – though this does mean we need to account for the additional spending required to keep our operation running without hiccups to reliability,” he adds. Therefore, the company supports industries which collectively provide more than 13,000 direct and indirect jobs across Central Queensland, alongside providing community facilities in the area that are free to use, particularly around its Awoonga Dam. These include rail trails – shared paths for walking, cycling, and fitness built along the route of old unused railway lines – alongside barbecues, freshwater swimming areas, and playgrounds. “For us, providing camping grounds, boating facilities, playgrounds, and recreational areas isn’t a cost – it’s part of our obligation to the community. “We even stock the Awoonga Dam with around 1.15 million barramundi a year for the public to catch recreationally – making it Australia’s
premier freshwater fishing location!” Barlow smiles. Indeed, as expectations around local procurement, sustainability, and community engagement continue to grow, GAWB is on hand to deliver socioeconomic and environmental benefits – not just an engineering outcome.
HIGH RELIABILITY WATER GAWB’s asset base includes the Awoonga Dam, water treatment facilities, reservoirs, and more than 300 kilometres (km) of pipeline, alongside the recent Fitzroy to Gladstone Pipeline (FGP) which has been designed to supplement existing water supply for water security purposes. “An important differentiator for us is our need for absolute supply and higher reliability, irrespective of climatic and other operational issues,” Barlow explains. This enables GAWB to support its high-stakes industrial clients, for whom an outage is not an option due to the major, often irreparable setbacks it would cause.
Supporting Queensland’s Water Security and Industrial Development For more than 30 years, Coogee Chemicals has contributed to Queensland’s industrial development through ongoing investment in critical infrastructure, regional employment and the reliable supply of essential chemicals and services to key industries across the state. Through its operations in Gladstone and throughout Queensland, Coogee plays an important role in supporting industrial growth, water security, and supply chain resilience.
The Gladstone operation represents a significant component of Coogee’s Queensland presence, providing infrastructure and logistics capability that supports both local industry and regional economic activity. Through ongoing investment in facilities, technology, and workforce development, Coogee continues to strengthen the capability and resilience of the supply chains upon which many essential industries depend.
Established in 1971, Coogee Chemicals is a privately owned Australian company with specialist expertise in chemical manufacturing, bulk liquid storage, terminal operations and integrated logistics services. The company operates strategically located infrastructure across Australia, including its Gladstone facility, which supports the import, storage and distribution of products essential to industrial and water treatment customers throughout Central Queensland and surrounding regions.
Safety, quality, and long-term partnerships are central to Coogee’s operating philosophy. Supported by extensive experience in the management of major hazard facilities, robust governance systems and advanced logistics capabilities, the company maintains a strong focus on operational excellence, regulatory compliance and responsible stewardship of critical infrastructure.
A key differentiator of Coogee’s business model is its integrated capability to manufacture, store, and deliver chemical products through a single operating platform. This approach provides customers with a secure, efficient, and reliable supply chain solution whilst maintaining high standards of safety, operational performance, and service delivery. Coogee’s chlor-alkali operations form an important part of Queensland’s water treatment supply chain. The company supplies critical treatment chemicals to water and wastewater service providers across the state, including Gladstone Area Water Board. These products are fundamental to the provision of safe and reliable water and wastewater services for Queensland communities and industry.
Coogee also recognises the importance of building enduring relationships with customers, government agencies, regulators and the communities in which it operates. This collaborative approach has underpinned the company’s continued growth and its ability to support essential services and industrial development throughout Queensland. As demand for industrial and water infrastructure continues to evolve, Coogee remains committed to investing in its people, assets and capabilities to ensure it can continue to provide reliable, safe and sustainable solutions for customers across Queensland and Australia.
35 South Street, Lytton QLD 4178 | Phone: +617 3893 7500 | Email: csqld@coogee.com.au | www.coogee.com.au |
“A N I M P O R TA N T D I F F E R E N T I AT O R F O R U S I S O U R N E E D F O R A B S O L U T E S U P P LY A N D H I G H E R R E L I A B I L I T Y, I R R E S P E C T I V E O F C L I M AT I C A N D O T H E R O P E R AT I O N A L I S S U E S ” – D A R R E N B A R L O W, C E O , G L A D S T O N E A R E A WAT E R B O A R D
“We must provide constant, highreliability water. We don’t have the opportunity of turning people off or saying we’ll fix the pipeline in two days; failure simply isn’t an option,” he urges. With reliable water therefore fundamental to Gladstone’s economy, GAWB’s role is to ensure its customers and the community have access to secure and reliable water – both now and in the future. GAWB’s focus on long-term water security is perfectly exemplified by FGP, which is in place to complement the Awoonga Dam and preserve storage levels during times of drought. 10 | APAC Outlook Issue 81
“The FGP has effectively droughtproofed the region, with independent analysis estimating delaying drought restrictions by 3.5 years because of the FGP generates approximately AUD$1.5 billion in direct customer economic benefits,” Barlow tells us. With safe, resilient, and reliable water supply underpinning the region’s economy, the FGP safeguards existing industries and provides confidence for long-term investment decisions. “We continue to invest in maintaining and improving our existing assets whilst planning for the region’s future water needs,” he adds.
LONG-TERM PLANNING As a Queensland Government bulk water supply authority, GAWB works with regulators and industry stakeholders on matters relating to pricing, infrastructure planning, and bulk water management. “We’re a highly regulated company that takes accountability very seriously. An independent regulator conducts a view of our water pricing every five years, and we are tested on our prudence and efficiency,” Barlow insights. To remain ahead of the game not only in terms of pricing but also water security, GAWB’s approach to future strategy is crucial. “A lot of people talk about longterm planning – we actually do it. We have an open mind and spend a lot of time asking what the future is going to look like,” he observes. A great example of this is the FGP, which is ultimately a result of more than 20 years of planning,
GLADSTONE AREA WATER BOARD ENERGY & UTILITIES
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investigation, and engagement across government, industry, water users, technical experts, and broader stakeholders. “This milestone project was not conceived overnight – the need for this pipeline and the additional water security it will bring was identified more than 20 years ago,” Barlow reveals. “That’s why this project is so unique – it’s not a knee-jerk reaction to ‘we think we have a need’, it’s something that’s been well-thought out and meticulously planned over a number of years,” he highlights.
BEYOND INFRASTRUCTURE The AUD$983 million governmentfunded FGP project is the largest infrastructure investment ever undertaken by GAWB and one of Queensland’s most significant water security projects. Connecting the Lower Fitzroy River to Gladstone’s water network, APAC Outlook Issue 81 | 11
“INFRASTRUCTURE IS M E A S U R E D N O T O N LY BY KM OF PIPELINE, BUT ALSO THE L E G A C Y I T L E AV E S ” – D A R R E N B A R L O W, C E O , G L A D S T O N E A R E A WAT E R B O A R D
FGP includes the Laurel Bank intake structure, Alton Downs Sediment Removal Plant, and two 50-megalitre reservoirs at Aldoga. Once the FGP is operational, water from the Boyne River (via the Awoonga Dam) and water from the Lower Fitzroy River (via the FGP) will be integrated into a single bulk water network. The FGP will deliver up to 30 gigalitres of raw water each year, providing the region with a second source of supply and significantly strengthening long-term water security. 12 | APAC Outlook Issue 81
“For every litre of water we bring in from the north, we leave a litre of water in the dam. That’s how FGP is providing water security – it’s not about bringing in extra water to sell but preserving what we’ve already got,” Barlow insists. Beyond infrastructure itself, the project has helped build regional capability by employing more than 400 local workers during peak construction, supporting 21
traineeships and delivering more than 78,300 hours of employment for First Nations workers. “Part of our definition of ‘value for money’ is making sure we promote both economic and community development close to home,” he says. Workforce welfare has also been a focus for GAWB, including its participation in MATES in Construction mental health and well-being programme and supporting local organisations,
GLADSTONE AREA WATER BOARD ENERGY & UTILITIES
all of which demonstrate how major infrastructure can deliver broader socioeconomic value. Recognising its ability to deliver benefits beyond critical infrastructure, the FGP won the Infrastructure Sustainability Council’s Excellence in Economic Outcomes Award and was Highly Commended in the Excellence in Social Outcomes category. These are an official acknowledgement of GAWB’s ability to work with communities, Traditional Owners, landholders, and local businesses and create long-lasting economic benefits across Central Queensland. “Infrastructure is measured not only by km of pipeline, but also the legacy it leaves. These awards recognise that broader impact,” Barlow outlines.
INVESTING IN GROWTH Looking to the future, GAWB’s immediate priority is successfully completing the commissioning of FGP and bringing the significant
infrastructure that accompanies it into operation. Naturally, this will include onboarding more clients to connect to the project. “As an economic developmentcentred business, our role is to enable economic growth by providing the water security industry needs to invest, expand, and continue positioning Gladstone as one of Queensland’s major economic contributors,” Barlow emphasises. This mindset extends all the way into the heart of the organisation, with executives and C-suite staff choosing to make their home in the region – both professionally and personally. The company’s growing presence in the region will also enable it to continue to create opportunities beyond construction, including supporting local suppliers, engaging with schools, and attending community events. “Our approach is to listen, build long-term relationships, and
contribute in practical ways that reflect local priorities,” he adds. Beyond that, GAWB’s focus remains on maintaining safe and resilient water services whilst investing in the infrastructure needed to support long-term regional growth. “Ultimately, our role is to ensure water security is not a constraint on future economic development whilst continuing to manage our assets responsibly,” he passionately concludes.
Tel: (07) 4976 3000 gawb@gawb.qld.gov.au
www.gawb.qld.gov.au APAC Outlook Issue 81 | 13
Tel: (07) 4976 3000 gawb@gawb.qld.gov.au www.gawb.qld.gov.au
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