Toowoomba Regional Council starts planning work on $200m dam spillway upgrades

It’s a project worth nearly 40 per cent of the council’s current budget and could leave it with a “serious financial impost” in the years to come. But planning has started on it anyway.

Cressbrook Dam.

The Toowoomba Regional Council has started the planning on a major dam upgrade project that is worth nearly 40 per cent of its current budget.

Councillors endorsed a motion at Wednesday’s committee meeting to procure “expert advice” on the mandatory spillway upgrades of Cooby and Cressbrook Dams.

The required upgrades, which are due by October 2025, are due to changes in legislation around dam safety and the council is responsible for the works as the assets’ owner.

Council officers have put the upgrade cost at more than $200m; in comparison, the TRC’s latest budget for the entire region was $550m.

While it is unclear whether a funding arrangement has been established with Queensland Treasury to ensure the projects don’t impact council’s budgets meaningfully, Deputy Mayor Geoff McDonald said it was continuing talks with state government officials.

“By October 1, 2025, Cressbrook and Cooby Dams must be able to safely pass through its spillway 75 per cent of its designated design flood — currently both dams do not meet the 2025 threshold,” he said.

“The estimated cost of the project is in excess of $200M and council has worked closely with the state banker, Queensland Treasury Corporation, over the past twelve months to ensure that while delivering these projects we can continue to ensure that council remains economically, environmentally and socially sustainable.

“The purpose of the report at Wednesday’s meeting was to ensure that council could engage and procure the relevant expert advice to carry out the works required and remain compliant with the Local Government Act and local government regulation.”

Water and waste general manager Damian Platts flagged the looming project to councillors last year, saying the work will happen and the only question was who paid for it.

Originally published as Toowoomba Regional Council starts planning work on $200m dam spillway upgrades