GOVT RELEASES FINAL BOUNDARY FOR WYARALONG DAM

The State Government today released the final dam footprint and associated road changes for the proposed Wyaralong Dam at Teviot Brook in the Logan catchment.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure Anna Bligh today told State Parliament the initial dam boundary and buffer had been refined following several months of detailed flood modeling and engineering studies.

Ms Bligh said the impact of the dam on local roads had also been investigated with 10.7 km of the Beaudesert-Boonah highway identified for upgrading.

“I recognize this has been an anxious time for landowners who have been living in a state of limbo while this work was being done,” she said.

“This is regrettable. However we can now give these residents certainty which will enable them to get on with their lives and plan for the future.”

Ms Bligh said 18 properties would be wholly or partly affected by the dam and associated road changes – no more than was previously foreshadowed.

“However eight of these affected properties have already been purchased,” she said.

Ms Bligh confirmed the historic Wyaralong and Overflow Homesteads would not be affected by the dam.

“These are iconic homes that are an important feature of the local community’s history and landscape and I’m pleased they will be preserved.

“The crest height of the dam, the elevation above sea level, has also been confirmed at 63.6m after a series of studies and modeling investigations.

“The studies identified that increasing the crest height to 66m would have increased the cost of the dam without any significant increase in yield and had a greater impact on property owners.”

Ms Bligh said letters, individualized maps and range of information about the purchasing process, favourable leaseback options and other material on the project had been posted to all landowners affected by the dam and associated road changes.

“In addition officers from Queensland Water Infrastructure – the company delivering the dam – started visiting residents today to discuss their individual circumstances,” she said.

Ms Bligh said the 1230 hectare dam would hold about 103,000 megalitres of water and yield approximately 21,000 megalitres a year.

“Apart from helping shore up the south-east’s water supplies, the dam will also have a number of benefits, including creating more than 300 jobs during construction and provide possible water allocations for use by local rural industry. Local services and materials would be sourced where possible.

Ms Bligh said the proposed dam had been granted significant project status by the Coordinator-General.

“This means the project will be subject to a full and thorough Environmental Impact Statement which will investigate the social, economic and environmental impacts of the project.

“The project will also be assessed under the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

“The terms of reference for the EIS are expected to be released for public comment in November.”

31 October 2006

Media contact: Deputy Premier’s office 3224 6900