Bell Racecourse Bore Investigation
Western Downs Regional Council is progressing an upgrade of the Bell Racecourse Bore to improve the reliability and resilience of the town’s water supply.
The Racecourse Bore is the town’s highest yield groundwater source but has not been used for potable supply in recent years due to water quality limitations, as the existing treatment processes are not suited to reliably treating this source to meet modern drinking water standards.
Council will undertake a detailed investigation of treatment options to determine the most effective way to safely treat water from the bore and integrate it into the existing network.
Construction of the upgraded treatment solution is planned to commence in the 2026/27 financial year.
Once complete, the upgrade will:
- restore the Racecourse Bore as a usable water source,
- improve overall water quality outcomes,
- provide additional supply capacity to support the Bell water scheme, and
- reduce reliance on lower‑yield or declining groundwater sources.
The project forms a key part of Council’s long‑term water security strategy for Bell, ensuring a more reliable and sustainable potable water supply for the community.