- The Crisafulli Government will double the capacity of two South East Queensland dams, as part of capacity-restoring upgrades in a major new push for water security.
- $545 million will be invested over six years as part of the Dam Repair Plan to boost North Pine Dam and Lake Macdonald Dam, with additional dams to follow.
- $10 million will also start Seqwater investigations into a new dam in the South East.
- The projects add to plans to rebuild Paradise Dam, and deliver three new weirs, strengthening water security across the State.
- The Crisafulli Government is building Queensland's future by investing in dams after Labor's underinvestment led to reduced dam capacity.
The Crisafulli Government is building Queensland's future by investing in critical dam upgrades, and progressing plans for a new South East Queensland dam, to strengthen water security.
In a major new Dam Repair Plan under the Crisafulli Government, existing dams operating below full-capacity will be restored across the South East, starting with North Pine Dam and Lake Macdonald Dam.
Years of missed maintenance during Labor's decade of decline led to almost half a million megalitres in reduced water storage capacity under Labor, putting water security at risk.
The Crisafulli Government's record investment with the Dam Repair Plan includes:
- Restoring Lake Macdonald Dam from 39% to 100% to deliver an additional 4,891 megalitres, with construction of a new dam wall.
- Restoring North Pine Dam from 54% to 100% to deliver an additional 99,404 megalitres by strengthening the existing dam wall including with anchors on the non-overflow monoliths and dam spillway.
Both North Pine Dam and Lake Macdonald supply drinking water for South East Queensland and these capacity-restoring works will help secure water supply for the long-term.
The Crisafulli Government has also tasked Seqwater with identifying a new South East Queensland dam site, to secure water supply for the growing population.
The former Labor Government left ageing water infrastructure, no plan for Paradise Dam and Queenslanders copping the most expensive water bills in the nation.
Premier David Crisafulli said the Government was delivering a Dam Repair Plan and a new dam to build Queensland's future.
"We are strengthening water security by repairing our dams and delivering new ones, investing in the infrastructure this State hasn't seen for many decades," Premier Crisafulli said.
"We can't control the weather but we can control our water storage, which is why new and improved dams are a priority.
"We are building Queensland's future with a major new investment into our water infrastructure, to ensure we're delivering water security for now and the future."
Minister for Local Government and Water Ann Leahy said this was one of the ways the Government was future-proofing Queensland's water infrastructure.
"The Crisafulli Government committed to delivering water security for Queenslanders and that is exactly what we are doing," Minister Leahy said.
"That's why we're adding new weirs in Longreach, Barlil and Cooranga and we're rebuilding Paradise Dam, as well as restoring capacity across South East Queensland dams.
"Under Labor's decade of decline, water security went backwards. We are turning this around by restoring our dams to their original full supply level and doing the work to progress future dams in Queensland."
Seqwater CEO Emma Thomas said works would ensure South East Queensland dams met modern engineering standards and continued to operate reliably into the future.
"Seqwater is delivering on our largest-ever capital delivery program, with anchoring works at North Pine Dam and construction of a new dam wall at Lake Macdonald underway," Ms Thomas said.
"These major infrastructure projects are strengthening the performance of our dams, helping ensure they continue to serve South East Queensland communities for generations to come.
"This work complements our water security program to ensure the region has safe, secure water supply now and into the future, including investments to expand the SEQ Water Grid, upgrade treatment plants and enhance the resilience of critical water infrastructure across the region."
