The Toowoomba Region’s primary drinking water source, Cressbrook Dam, which serves over 180,000 residents, is undergoing a significant safety upgrade.
This ambitious project aims to enhance the dam’s flood resilience and ensure a reliable water supply for the region well into the future.
Toowoomba’s Cressbrook Dam Safety Upgrade
The upgrade will see a substantial widening of the dam’s spillway, a critical measure designed to bolster flood management and safeguard downstream communities in the Somerset Regional Council area during major flood events.
This initiative also aims to bring the dam into compliance with the safety requirements mandated by the Water Supply (Safety and Reliability) Act 2008.
In what is considered the largest dam safety project undertaken by a Queensland local government to date, the project is expected to cost approximately $270 million.
Work Partners and Timeline
Toowoomba Regional Council has partnered with renowned dam engineering specialists, Seymour Whyte Constructions and SMEC Australia, to carry out the project.
Preliminary activities, such as surveying the dam wall, inspecting weirs and local roads, and conducting geotechnical investigations around the dam, are currently in progress.
The main construction phase is set to begin in the latter half of 2024, with completion targeted for late 2025, weather and other conditions permitting.
Additional minor works may extend into the end of 2026.
Residents and stakeholders seeking more information about the project are encouraged to contact the Council at 131 872 or via email at damsafetyupgrades@tr.qld.gov.au.
This significant investment in Cressbrook Dam’s infrastructure underscores the Council’s commitment to ensuring a safe and sustainable water supply for the Toowoomba Region for generations to come.
News and Image source: Toowoomba Regional Council website
