{"id":325404,"date":"2022-10-26T12:47:26","date_gmt":"2022-10-26T02:47:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=325404"},"modified":"2022-10-26T16:38:32","modified_gmt":"2022-10-26T06:38:32","slug":"trc-starts-200m-dam-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2022\/10\/26\/trc-starts-200m-dam-project\/","title":{"rendered":"TRC Starts $200m Dam Project"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Cr Rebecca Vonhoff (Photo: Facebook)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

October 26, 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n

Toowoomba Regional Council has begun the process for the $200 million upgrades of Cressbrook and Cooby dams, part of controversial spillway safety upgrades forced on local councils by the State Government.<\/p>\n

Cr Rebecca Vonhoff said because of the significant cost of the project – which has been estimated to be about 40 per cent of the TRC’s annual budget – and the specific set of skills required, Council would seek Expressions of Interest before inviting written tenders.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis will likely be the biggest project Council undertakes over the coming two to three years and it\u2019s crucial we get it right,\u201d Cr Vonhoff said.<\/p>\n

“Dam upgrade works are required to meet Council\u2019s obligations.<\/p>\n

\u201cCressbrook Dam and Cooby Dam are critical so that we have water to drink and while we don\u2019t know the exact costs for the work required to do these upgrades, the initial estimates indicate the project could cost $200 million.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThat is a lot of public money we\u2019re investing so let\u2019s go out to the market and engage with the specialists to get the best possible outcome.<\/p>\n

\u201cCouncil\u2019s Dam Safety Upgrade Project will improve the long-term viability of our assets and ensure we meet all the safety requirements set out in the Water Supply (Safety and Reliability) Act 2008.<\/p>\n

\u201cFollowing this process Council will be able to issue formal tenders, with upgrade works expected to begin in the 2023-24 financial year.”<\/p>\n

The mandatory spillway upgrades, which must be completed by October 2025, have been ordered by Queensland\u2019s Dam Safety Regulator.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Similar demands, linked to spillway capacity, have been made on all Queensland councils that operate water storages, including the South Burnett Regional Council.<\/p>\n

In April this year, the SBRC invited tenders for the assessment and project management of work on Gordonbrook Dam\u2019s spillway.<\/p>\n

In June last year,\u00a0South Burnett councillors voted to borrow $11.8 million over three financial years to fund the project.<\/p>\n