On-site activities have ramped up on Burdekin Falls Dam as the Queensland Government works to raise the dam by two metres and improve its resilience against extreme weather.
22 jobs will be supported by these on-site activities over the coming months, with the majority from North Queensland, while the project will create more than 350 jobs during construction.
Minister for Water Glenn Butcher said Queensland’s largest dam is about to get even bigger.
“With the project set to create 350 jobs during construction, there will be considerable flow-on benefits for North Queensland,” he said.
“I also look forward to seeing more Townsville and North Queensland suppliers getting involved.
“The 2-metre raise makes sense – both economically and environmentally.”
Drilling and trenching will examine the dam’s foundations, main structure and saddle dams.
The project team will also assess clay and sand from the area.
These on-site activities will help the project team better understand labour, equipment and material requirements to inform construction.
Local suppliers from Townsville and Ayr have been contracted to provide accommodation, office and laboratory testing facilities as well plant hire and plumbing services.
Topographic surveys are also progressing to inform the design process while Sunwater is conducting stakeholder engagement with landholders and Traditional Owners.
Cultural heritage field officers representing the Birriah People are supporting these works.
“The investigations and preparatory works we have commenced are essential to provide us with the information we need to make important project decisions,” said Sunwater CEO Glenn Stockton.
“Sunwater continues to engage directly with the community, landholders and Traditional Owners to ensure local interests and expectations are considered and managed during project activities.”
The Burdekin Falls Dam 2-metre raise will increase medium priority water allocations by approximately 150,000 megalitres per year, boosting capacity at the dam from 1.8 million megalitres to more than 2.4 million.
The proposed works on the dam will include raising the spillway and abutments using concrete buttressing, raising and widening the saddle dams, and constructing a new saddle dam on the right bank.
Businesses can register their interest to supply goods and services on the project’s dedicated web registry.
Sunwater will soon appoint a consultant to undertake a series of investigations into the road network leading to the dam.
The Burdekin Falls Dam 2-metre raise will increase medium priority water allocations by approximately 150,000 megalitres per year. Photo supplied
