Plans for the upgrade of one of the region’s major dams have been revealed, with early works already underway ahead of construction commencing later this year.
Seqwater has released the final design concept for the upgrade of Lake Macdonald Dam, between Noosa and Cooroy, which will increase its capacity to withstand extreme weather events.
The dam improvement project involves building a new split-level concrete spillway and upper labyrinth, and reconstructing the existing earth embankments. It follows a technical review undertaken in 2021 and 2022.
Part of Seqwater’s Dam Improvement Program, the upgrade will enhance water security and enable the dam to withstand a one-in-500,000-year flood event.
“It is vitally important that the dam wall is upgraded to improve safety for nearby residents and enable greater resilience during flood-related events,” independent Member for Noosa Sandy Bolton said.
Minister for Water Glenn Butcher said he was pleased to see progress on the project.
“This important upgrade will ensure the longevity of Lake Macdonald Dam so it can continue to provide water security and dam safety for years to come,” he said.
“Dams in Queensland are built to very high, internationally accepted safety standards, but methods used to estimate extreme weather and flood risks have changed significantly since some were built.
“With construction starting soon, the upgrade is also set to boost local employment opportunities in the region, with around 150 jobs expected to be created over the life of the project.”
This will be the first major upgrade of Lake Macdonald Dam since its original construction in 1965.
The lake will be temporarily lowered for construction work to occur safely, and a temporary cofferdam will be installed to support water security during construction.
Due to the significant nature of the project, some recreational use of the lake and surrounding areas will be disrupted during construction. However, recreation activities at Lake Macdonald, Lake Macdonald Park and the Noosa Botanic Gardens will remain open.
The Noosa Water Treatment Plant will continue to operate during construction.
Survey works are currently underway on site, with site establishment and lake lowering occurring over the coming months.
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Major work to construct the temporary cofferdam is expected to commence mid-2024, following contractor appointment.
“While Lake Macdonald Dam continues to operate safely, the upgrade will ensure the dam meets updated engineering and safety standards, taking into account extremely rare weather scenarios and climate change,” Seqwater CEO Neil Brennan said.
“The revised design will allow: water to be retained in Lake Macdonald during construction; some recreation activities to remain open; reduced impact on aquatic life, plants and animals in and around the lake; and will ensure the Noosa Water Treatment Plant continues to operate for local water supply.
“Projects of this scale are complex and require significant planning time and we thank the community for their understanding while we undertook this important work.”
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Also known as Six Mile Creek Dam, the water body is part of South-East Queensland’s drinking water supply. Its capacity is 8018 megalitres, roughly 4000 Olympic swimming pools. It is currently at about 82 per cent capacity.
Seqwater said it would keep the community informed throughout the project and hold information sessions in early 2024 where the project team will be available to talk through the design and construction approach and answer any questions.
“Thank you to the Seqwater team for their work and all Lake Macdonald residents for their ongoing patience during the planning and construction phases,” Ms Bolton said.
For more information visit the Seqwater website.
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