Sunshine Coast dam upgrade a step closer

Seqwater’s $80 million upgrade of the Sunshine Coast’s Six Mile Creek Dam is a step closer to creating 100 local jobs after gaining special “coordinated project” status.

Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning, Cameron Dick said Seqwater’s proposed upgrade would bring the dam, also known as Lake Macdonald, up to modern safety standards making it better able to withstand a major flood event.

“The Coordinator General has declared Six Mile Creek Dam a coordinated project, slashing red tape and ensuring this vital project is up and running as soon as possible,” Mr Dick said.

Natural Resources, Mines and Energy Minister Dr Anthony Lynham said the dam provided an essential raw water supply for the Noosa area.

“As part of the South East Queensland Water Grid, Six Mile Creek Dam contributes to overall drinking water security for the south-east corner,” Dr Lynham said.

“The two-year dam upgrade project will ensure the long-term security of water supply and the ongoing recreational use of Lake Macdonald and its foreshore.

“The lake attracts more than 200,000 visitors a year, providing an economic boost to the local community and tourism while providing a range of recreation activities including sailing, paddling, fishing and multiuse trials for bushwalking, horse riding and mountain biking.”

The proposed project involves removing the existing spillway, building a new concrete spillway, improving existing embankments and potentially building a saddle dam.

Mr Dick said the upgrades would retain Lake Macdonald’s current 8,018 megalitre storage capacity and improve the dam’s capability to cope with major floods.

Seqwater will now undertake an impact assessment report to investigate the potential impacts of the project including impacts on the environmental values of Six Mile Creek.

The project will also require approval from the Commonwealth Department of Energy and Environment due to potential impacts on matters of national environmental significance such as the Mary River cod, Australian lungfish and giant barred frog.

“The impact assessment report is a new methodology available under the SDWPO Act as a streamlined approach to assessment and an alternative to the environmental impact statement (EIS) process,” Mr Dick said.

“The requirements of an impact assessment report are identified by the Office of the Coordinator-General and are informed by government agency consultation.”  

For more information, visit www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/sixmilecreek

Contact: Minister Dick’s office, Cath Palmer, 0424 823 424