May 21, 2025
Toowoomba Regional Council has again pleaded for Federal and State government funding to support the compulsory $266.1 million Cressbrook Dam safety upgrades.
Council applied last month for $97 million in funding from Round 3 of the Federal Government’s Disaster Ready Fund 2025-26.
This week, the TRC sent a revised submission to the State Government for consideration of the project’s inclusion in the 2025-26 State Budget.
Mayor Geoff McDonald said securing funding for the project was critical and it was Council’s top infrastructure funding priority.
“Despite careful financial planning, Council can’t carry the cost of the Cressbrook Dam project alone without postponing other major infrastructure developments and potentially reassessing the scope and quality of delivering essential local government services,” Mayor McDonald said.
“Based on the current project budget of $266.1 million, the additional cost to ratepayers from the Cressbrook Dam Safety Improvement Project remains at a present value of approximately $135 per year for every rateable property year-on-year without external funding support.
“Toowoomba Region ratepayers should not have to bear the full cost of this project, which ultimately protects landholders outside the Toowoomba Region.”
Related articles:
