July 5, 2024
Toowoomba Regional Council’s push to get financial support for its compulsory $270 million Cressbrook Dam Safety Project has been taken directly to Premier Steven Miles.
Mayor Geoff McDonald visited the State Government offices in Brisbane on Thursday to deliver the business case for external funding.
“I’m pleased Premier Miles made the time to officially receive the business case,” Mayor McDonald said.
“The reality is, we have delayed a number of critical projects for our region because of the requirement on TRC to deliver this one project, having committed $110.6 million in our 2024-25 Budget for this project alone.
“Our ratepayers should not have to bear the full cost of this project which ultimately protects landholders outside of the Toowoomba Region.
“I look forward to the State Government closely examining TRC’s business case to come up with a fair funding package for the delivery of this project.”
The Cressbrook Dam Safety Improvement Project, legislated by the State Government, will widen the dam spillway to increase flood resilience and protect landholders downstream in the Somerset Regional Council area.
South Burnett Regional Council is in a similar position to the TRC, facing a huge bill over a compulsory upgrade ordered for Gordonbrook Dam.
In April, representatives from the SBRC met with representatives from the Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water to press Council’s case for financial support for the mandatory upgrade of the spillway at Gordonbrook.
At the time, Mayor Kathy Duff said the upgrade project was a massive cost with no direct benefit to water security.
