General News
8 April, 2025
Drinking water still coming from Cressbrook
Toowoomba Region Mayor Geoff McDonald says Cressbrook Dam upgrades continues to comply with progress reporting requirements set out by the Queensland Dam Safety Regulator, including by reducing the Dam levels by using Cressbrook Dam as the main residential water source.
Mayor McDonald said Council regularly reports on the status of the project to the Regulator to meet various compliance requirements.
“In February, we received acknowledgement that our latest report was suitable and that the Cressbrook Dam Safety Improvement Project is progressing satisfactorily,” he said.
“The design process is complex as we’re applying a risk-based design approach according to the Water Supply (Safety and Reliability) Act 2008 and the Australian National Committee on Large Dams guidelines to reduce risks to As Low As Reasonably Practicable.
“To do this, the team is diligently applying data and guidelines from various sources to arrive at a design solution that protects communities.”
Council reported to the Regulator that early geotechnical investigations to address site complexities had been extended, requiring further understanding to support the design.
Council clarified with the Regulator that the construction of an endorsed design is forecast to start in the second half of 2025, with the project expected for completion at the end of 2026, weather and conditions permitting.
“The construction phase is expected to be about 18 months,” the Mayor said.
Toowoomba Region Deputy Mayor and portfolio spokesperson for Strategic Water Planning and Capital Delivery, Cr Rebecca Vonhoff, said the region had also experienced a wet summer season, followed by the impacts of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, causing Perseverance Dam to spill into Cressbrook Dam.
Cressbrook Dam’s current water level has exceeded 100 per cent of its full supply level and is currently spilling.
“For some specific construction activities to occur safely, the dam needs to be at a temporary full supply level of 70 per cent,” Cr Vonhoff said.
“Last year the water levels in Cressbrook got close to where they needed to be to safely start construction.
“Now that the dam is spilling because of the rain we’ve had, we’re working out how all that extra water is going to impact the project.
“To get water levels down we’re going to do what we were doing last year: change how we supply water to residents so that instead of drawing from all our dams and aquifers, we’re going to mostly be pumping from Cressbrook Dam.”
“Cressbrook doesn’t have a spillway like Wivenhoe or Somerset Dams that allows for large amounts of water to be released.
“We only have one small valve that releases water typically used to meet our legislated requirements of environmental flows.”
