MP Angry Residents Learned About Wivenhoe Dam In Media

April 5, 2017

Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington has called on Water Supply Minister Mark Bailey to explain why a major upgrade of Wivenhoe Dam, including the raising of the dam wall, had been announced via media.

“It is extremely disappointing for residents and property owners above the Wivenhoe Dam wall to have learned that there are plans now in place to raise the dam wall by four metres,” Mrs Frecklington said.

“This will have a significant impact on my community and I find it unacceptable that the plans have been announced via media, without a single minute of consultation with the affected community.

“While I understand the need for safety upgrades it shows once again this Labor Government doesn’t consider regional communities when making decisions. They talk about openness and accountability, yet here is an example of this definitely not occurring.

“This is completely different to how our former LNP Government handled this issue.

“In 2014, we announced scoping studies to investigate flood mitigation options and we immediately started consulting and including the community.

“In 2015, I wrote to the Minister for Energy and Water twice to ask if the scoping studies would proceed under the Palaszczuk Government, as well as lodging a Question on Notice through Parliament.

“Each answer I received was vague but we understood all scoping studies were on hold and the community has received no information since early 2015 from the Palaszczuk Government about their intentions.

“I have requested an immediate briefing with the Minister to express the concerns firstly about the potential impacts on surrounding landholders, and secondly how incompetently this has been handled.”

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Water Supply Minister Mark Bailey said the Wivenhoe Dam project was part of a “staged capital upgrade program over the next 18 years”, including both Wivenhoe and Somerset Dams.

He said the schedule of Seqwater’s Dam Improvement Program, which would be completed by 2035, has been determined by the Queensland Dam Safety Regulator based on risk assessments.

Mr Bailey said all Seqwater dams currently complied with the requirements of the Queensland Dam Safety Regulator but upgrades were needed for the future.

“As part of the program, a new study is underway to upgrade Wivenhoe and Somerset dams which includes considering options to improve the flood mitigation offered by both dams,” he said.

“The timing and cost of the Wivenhoe and Somerset dam upgrades will be determined by the outcome of the current study.

“Under the Queensland dam safety guidelines Seqwater is required to progressively complete its dam upgrades by October 1, 2035.

“However, the outcomes of the current study could see works being undertaken on Somerset Dam as early as 2022 and Wivenhoe as early as 2025.”

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