Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) today (June 17, 2025) endorsed a motion calling for State Government support into a comprehensive investigation and feasibility study for a regional raw water supply from the proposed Nathan Dam near Taroom.
Council also ruled out pursuing further investigations into the feasibility of a new Emu Creek Dam, north of Crows Nest.
Toowoomba Region Deputy Mayor and Strategic Water Planning and Capital Delivery portfolio spokesperson Cr Rebecca Vonhoff said findings from the Nathan Dam Pre-Feasibility Memo (May 2025) indicated the potential benefits of a regional raw water supply scheme from the proposed Nathan Dam outweighed further consideration of the Emu Creek Dam.
Cr Vonhoff said that the recent study completed by consultants Engeny, showed that the Emu Creek Dam would yield half the water (or an estimated 7.4 Gigalitres per year) compared with the 1996 calculation by the Department of Natural Resources and Water, and along with consideration of other factors, made the project unviable for Council.
"The estimated cost for the Emu Creek Dam scheme is $1.22 billion for a new dam, three pump stations, two reservoirs and approximately 45km of trunk raw water pipelines. This proposal would require significant financial investment and support from the State and Federal Governments," Cr Vonhoff said.
