JOBS FLOW FROM WYARALONG DAM

300 jobs will be created in the next two years during construction of the $333 million Wyaralong Dam Project.

Acting Premier Paul Lucas inspected early works at the site on Teviot Brook, about 14 km northwest of Beaudesert.

“In the midst of this global economic crisis the Bligh Government will keep doing what it does best, creating jobs by building important infrastructure,” said Mr Lucas.

“This dam is already creating local jobs for people here in South East Queensland, more than 55 staff and sub contractors are hard at work with many more to come.

“We will be looking for everyone from machinery operators, fencers and labourers to administrators and cleaners.

“By the end of this year, the workforce will be ramped up to its peak of around 300.

“Wyaralong Dam will also create opportunities for around 400 businesses, boosting the Boonah, Beaudesert and South East Queensland economies.

“Wyaralong Dam is a key part of our South East Queensland Water Grid and will supply up to an extra 21,000 million litres of much-needed water every year, working in conjunction with the nearby Cedar Grove Weir.

“That’s enough water for more than 330,000 people meeting Target 170.

“Today we see major earth works starting on a 5.5km access road to the dam for heavy vehicles to use during construction.

“In the long term visitors will be able to use it to access to the dam and recreational facilities.

“The main dam contract will be announced by April, with high calibre bidders EcoSmart Team and Queensland Dam Consortium now in the final selection process to build the dam.

“Construction will start in mid to late 2009 and the major construction works will be complete by December 2010,” he said.

Mr Lucas said other benefits include:

• $4 million for tourism and development of recreational facilities, in consultation with Scenic Rim Regional Council.
• $2m from QWI to upgrade the Boonah Waste Water Treatment Plant.
• replacement of 11.9km of Beaudesert-Boonah Rd with a new 10.6km realignment further south plus the relocation or raising of parts of Old Beaudesert Rd and Knethers Rd.

Queensland Water Infrastructure Pty Ltd (QWI) CEO Graeme Newton said local workers and suppliers should register on the website www.wyaralongdam.com.au.

“Already, more than 130 workers and 610 suppliers have registered their details, which will be provided to the major contractors in sourcing their workforce,” said Mr Newton.

“Exceptional pre-construction planning means this dam is on track for completion in advance of the December 2011 regulated timeframe.

“Pre-construction activities, such as site preparation and installation of a temporary water pipeline to supply water to the construction site, commenced immediately following approval by the Federal Environment Minister in late 2008.

“A preliminary design which has included detailed analysis and modelling of the final dam has been completed to provide us certainty about the Project’s delivery.

“This includes a scale model of the dam that provides the designers with detailed information about the hydraulic performance of the dam.

“It provides us with certainty that the dam will be able to withstand the most extreme flood event possible, which has a frequency less than once very 1.8 million years.”

Media: Matthew Klar 0437 435 223