HINZE DAM EIS GOES TO CANBERRA

Construction crews could be on site raising the Hinze Dam wall by January.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure and Planning, Paul Lucas, said today the Coordinator-General had approved the Environmental Impact Statement for the dam’s $395 million expansion.

“Plans to add another 15 metres to the dam wall are expected to boost the amount of water Hinze Dam is able to supply to the South East by about 16 ML per day.

“Based on current consumption that’s enough to meet the daily water needs of an extra 119,000 people.

“The upgrade would lift the dam’s storage capacity to more than 309,000 ML when 100% full and reduce flooding for 4,000 properties in the lower Nerang River catchment.”

Mr Lucas said the Coordinator-General had outlined conditions on the project, to minimise potential environmental and social effects.

“The conditions include the purchase of at least 318 hectares of land to restore plant habitats affected by the dam upgrade.

“It’s a significant commitment to the local environment.

“The next step for stage 3 of Hinze Dam is to send the EIS to Canberra for Federal Government evaluation and approval.

“If given the green light to proceed work on raising the dam wall to just over 108 metres could be finished by the end of 2010.

“The bigger Hinze Dam will plug into the South East’s Water Grid to deliver better water security not only for the Gold Coast but the entire region.

“It also builds in a healthy 17 GL reserve which would only be accessed in times of emergency, “Mr Lucas said.

Expansion of Hinze Dam, if approved by the Federal Government, will be delivered by the Hinze Dam Alliance including Gold Coast City Council, Thiess, Sinclair Knight Merz and URS Asia Pacific.

The Coordinator-General’s EIS report is available on-line at http://www.infrastructure.qld.gov.au

More information on stage 3 of Hinze Dam can be found at www.hinzedamstage3.com or freecall 1800 993 413.

Media contact: Darren Roberts 0448 184566