Dam spillway upgrades worth $200m loom large for Toowoomba Regional Council as budget announced

In a budget focused on asset renewal, one major piece of work that could become a “massive impost” for the council wasn’t in the papers. Here’s why:

Cressbrook Dam.

The Toowoomba Regional Council hopes to attract funding from higher levels of government to ensure the “massive impost” of the $203m dam spillway upgrades don’t blow out future budgets.

The council is required to complete the upgrades at Cressbrook and Cooby Dams by 2025 to meet new safety regulations and criteria.

There was no funding for spillways in the new budget.

Deputy mayor Geoff McDonald said the council would need support to afford it.

“The spillways project equates to more than $200m, and could be more — that’s a massive impost on a local government,” he said.

“I know the Mayor is keen on seeking support from both levels of government.”