Toowoomba Regional Council spends big to sell Cressbrook to ratepayers

Ads outlining the magnitude of the Cressbrook Dam safety upgrade have hit televisions and social media feeds across the Toowoomba region as the council waits to hear if the federal government will help cover the $266m construction cost.

Toowoomba Regional Council is hoping the federal government will help provide funding to contribute towards the cost of a state government mandated safety upgrade. Picture David Clark Photography

Toowoomba Regional Council is spending $30,000 on an advertising campaign to sell the $266m Cressbrook Dam upgrade to ratepayers.

Despite being told almost two decades ago that the dam’s spillway needed to be heightened by October 2025, successive councils failed to act, leading to an eleventh-hour scramble for funding.

The changes were mandated by the Dam Safety Regulator and are designed to protect 1800 residents living downstream but do not add extra storage capacity.

Under the new regulation, 107 dams across Queensland were deemed non-compliant.

Most are owned by the state government and will cost about $2.1bn to upgrade, while a handful are owned by local councils.

It is estimated that Toowoomba’s water bill for an average ratepayer will increase by $120 per year to cover the cost of the upgrade.

In response, the council has asked the state and federal governments to contribute.

To date, the state government has committed, with a $54m funding package announced earlier this month.

Water and Waste Services general manager Jaek Passier said the advertising campaign was part of the council’s broader advocacy work with the Queensland and Australian governments seeking additional financial assistance.

“TRC is undertaking an education campaign to highlight the importance and magnitude of the $266m project,” he said.

“The $30,000, eight-week advertising campaign, from the existing project budget, is spread across traditional and social media channels across the Toowoomba region.

“It is in response to community questions specifically asking what the project involves and why council must perform the upgrade.”

The council is waiting to hear if the it application for $97m in federal funding is approved.

“As the largest project undertaken by the council, it is imperative that our community is kept informed of the reasons for the project and its progress,” Mr Passier said.