University Reservoir Replacement

• Council is working to secure Australian and Queensland Government funding to support the delivery of the University Reservoir Replacement.
• This project will increase the resilience and reliability of Cairns’ drinking water network to ensure uninterrupted access to safe water during and after natural disasters.
• The The University Reservoir Replacement project will provide critical water infrastructure capacity to support the region’s future growth while strengthening long-term community resilience.

The University Reservoir Replacement is a high-priority advocacy project focused on strengthening Cairns’ long-term water security and disaster resilience.

The existing University Reservoir plays a critical role in the city’s drinking water network. However, as Cairns continues to grow and faces increasing risks from severe weather events, additional water storage capacity and improved infrastructure resilience are required to ensure a reliable supply of safe drinking water before, during and after disasters.

Council has identified the construction of a new University 2 Reservoir as the highest-ranked project in its Local Resilience Action Plan (LRAP), recognising its importance to the resilience of the region’s water supply network. The project involves constructing a new reinforced concrete reservoir on an elevated site adjacent to the existing facility, together with associated pumping, access, pipeline and water treatment infrastructure.

Why it matters

The University Reservoir Replacement will:

• Improve the resilience and reliability of Cairns’ drinking water network.
• Reduce the risk of water supply interruptions during cyclones, flooding and other disaster events.
• Strengthen water security for residents, businesses and critical community infrastructure.
• Support the continued growth and development of the Cairns region.
• Enhance Council’s ability to maintain access to clean drinking water during and following emergency situations.

Advocacy priority

Given the project’s significance to community resilience and essential service delivery, Council endorsed securing external funding for the University Reservoir Replacement as a High Advocacy Priority at its 24 June 2026 Ordinary Meeting. Council is actively advocating to the Australian and Queensland governments for funding support to deliver this critical piece of water infrastructure and ensure Cairns remains prepared for future growth and natural disasters. This will ensure Cairns has a resilient, future-ready water supply system capable of supporting the community during both everyday operations and extreme weather events.