- Crisafulli Government invests $54 million towards Cressbrook Dam safety improvements.
- The funding delivers long term water security for 180,000 residents.
- The safety upgrades support the proposed Big T pumped hydro energy project.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering water security for Toowoomba with an investment in safety improvements at Cressbrook Dam.
The State will invest $54m towards Toowoomba Regional Council's Cressbrook Dam Safety Improvement Project, which will help deliver a long-awaited mandatory upgrade of the asset's spillways.
It will help enhance the safety of the dam wall for downstream communities during major flooding events by enabling a greater volume of outflow via an expanded spillway, as well as providing better dam monitoring systems.
The improvements will secure the key source of the region's water supply, which is one of three dams servicing more than 180,000 residents.
The investment comprises roughly 20 per cent of the Council's estimated $266.1 million cost to complete the project.
Treasurer and Member for Toowoomba South David Janetzki said the investment would help the council deliver on its legislated obligations.
"This project has been known to the Toowoomba Regional Council for more than 15 years, but it has failed to properly prepare and budget for the project," Mr Janetzki said.
"The former Labor government also failed to act.
"Council has recently taken proactive steps to budget and seek additional funding to support their construction efforts and the state's contribution will now empower them to deliver the upgrade and secure our region's water future."
Mr Janetzki said the safety upgrades would also support the progression of Stanwell's proposed Big T pumped hydro project at Cressbrook Dam.
"This investment also complements the state budget investment of $38.1 million to progress ongoing development of the Big T project, which is being developed in partnership with the private sector," Mr Janetzki said.
The Big T project could create 400MW of continuous clean energy for up to 10 hours a day and a battery storage system with capacity of 200MW hours. Minister for Local Government and Water Ann Leahy said the investment was part of the Crisafulli Government's commitment to deliver long-term water security across Queensland.
"Working with councils to upgrade and maintain their critical water assets ensures our regional communities have the certainty they need to grow, invest and prosper," Minister Leahy said.
"After years of inaction under Labor, the Crisafulli Government is finally working hand in hand with Council to deliver water security and reliability for the Toowoomba region."
Toowoomba North MP Trevor Watts said securing the region's water supply and a potential pumped hydro facility would benefit the region for generations.
"Cressbrook Dam is a vital community asset, and while it should have been maintained by Council to meet current safety standards, we welcome the Crisafulli Government's commitment to help deliver the essential upgrades," Mr Watts said.
"I'm proud to be a part of the Crisafulli Government supporting Council with this project, while also delivering a new pumped hydro facility to ensure power can be delivered when our region needs it."
