The East Water Tower is an iconic local building and now its preservation will be given a boost through the preparation of a Conservation Management Plan.
The plan will be developed following Bundaberg Regional Council’s successful funding application to the Queensland Government Community Sustainability Action (CSA) Grants for Community Heritage.
The East Water Tower, located on Princess Street in Bundaberg East, was constructed in 1902 and is State Heritage listed.
It’s the only circular brick water tower known in Queensland and was a key element in Bundaberg’s first reticulated water system, marking an important stage in the city’s development.
The funding will allow Council to engage a consultant to develop a Conservation Management Plan for the water tower which will:
- provide guidance for the ongoing conservation of the site
- identify opportunities to improve public access and enhance interpretation through digital technologies.
Mayor Helen Blackburn said it was a project which she was sure would be close to the hearts of many locals.
“The East Water Tower is nothing short of iconic to our region and the city area skyline,” Mayor Blackburn said.
“Locals and visitors alike marvel at the cylindrical brick building and appreciate both the ingenuity behind its construction and the very visible and tangible link to our past.
“Council is committed to preserving this historically significant building.”
Council’s Arts, Heritage and Asset Management portfolio spokesperson Cr John Learmonth said Council had engaged a heritage specialist to research the tower and undertake a site and significance assessment before developing conservation policies and an implementation plan.
“This will provide us with guidance for things like maintenance as well as give Council a path to increase public interaction with the site as time and budget allows,” Cr Learmonth said.
“We have been able to open this wonderful building to the community on rare occasions due to limitations imposed by a safety and risk assessment so I’m particularly looking forward to the findings revealing how Council can explore innovative solutions to share this space more broadly.”
Cr Learmonth said Council intended to make the community part of the process by allowing locals to share their memories of the building with more detail to be available on how to do so soon.
This project has received funding support from the Queensland Government’s Community Sustainability Action grant program.
