As posted to our Facebook page in June, Sandy met with representatives from South East Queensland (SEQ) Water for an update on the Lake Macdonald replacement project. The review that delayed the project has now been completed and progress can now be made. Timelines for community consultation will be posted as soon as received.
During Parliamentary Estimate Hearings this week, the Minister for Water was asked for an update on the SEQ Water dam improvement program (which includes Lake Macdonald), the following was provided in response:
Seqwater is progressing planning work for various dam improvement projects within its portfolio. Seqwater has completed 13 dam upgrades including Ewen Maddock Stages 1 and 2, Sideling Creek, Bjelke Petersen, Leslie Harrison Stage 1, Lake Manchester, Borumba Stage 1, Hinze Stage 3, Wyaralong, Maroon, Moogerah Stage 1A, Wappa, Cooloolabin Stage 2 and Bromelton Off-Stream Storage.
Detailed planning for South East Queensland’s major water sources is underway – Somerset, Wivenhoe and North Pine Dams. All of Seqwater’s dam improvement projects are on track to be completed by 2035 in line with regulatory requirements.
In 2023-24, Seqwater is budgeting $17.5 million to progress planning work for multiple dam upgrades including North Pine Dam, Lake Macdonald Dam, Somerset Dam and Wivenhoe Dam.
For the Lake Macdonald Dam Improvement Project, Seqwater intends to finalise the preferred option and design by late 2023.
We will provide further updates once the design has been finalised.
Further information
Further direct advocacy regarding this or any other matters related to the SEQ Water can be directed to the QLD Minster for Water via regionaldevelopment@ministerial.qld.gov.au and please cc’ our office in via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au and forward any response you receive to us.
For the Noosa 360 history on this, please visit www.sandybolton.com/?s=lake+macdonald.