EVALUATION COMPLETE
Dams continue to play a critical role in providing safe and reliable sources of water across Australia. The Paradise Dam improvement project will secure regional water supply to support growth in agricultural and industrial production. The proposal aligns with the Bundaberg Regional Water Supply Security Assessment and the Bundaberg and Burnett Regional Water Assessment, which identify the water service needs for communities and the agriculture industry in that region.
PROPOSAL DESCRIPTION
The physical structure of Paradise Dam does not currently meet Queensland Government dam safety regulations, and technical investigations have found the existing wall cannot be repaired to meet those requirements. Decommissioning the existing dam would reduce water availability for productive agricultural use in the region.
The proposal involves construction of a new dam immediately downstream of the existing Paradise Dam. This would meet dam safety standards and restore the yield of Paradise Dam to its original design levels, supplying water for agricultural, urban, commercial and industrial customers.
INVESTMENT RECOMMENDATION
The Australian Government should consider prioritising the proposal for delivery investment, supporting upgrades at Paradise Dam to ensure compliance with Queensland Government dam safety regulations.
The Australian Government has committed $600 million to the proposal through the National Water Grid Fund.
OPPORTUNITIES AND OUTCOMES
- Reduce flooding risks and improve safety – construction of a new dam will reduce the probability of dam failure in line with dam safety regulations and significantly reduce the risk of flooding and the associated social, economic and environmental impacts.
- Support regional economic growth – restoring the capacity of the dam will provide a secure and reliable water supply to support growth in agricultural and industrial production as well as urban development.
- Support water security – secure water supply will support economic and population growth in the region.
NEXT STEPS
Proponent to finalise the design and approvals processes, ready for delivery.
To minimise costs and improve certainty that benefits will be realised, the proponent should:
- consider value engineering opportunities to achieve cost savings
- undertake additional analysis of market drivers to improve demand certainty and benefits realisation
- undertake further analysis of securing capital cost funding from beneficiaries, such as user contributions, to ensure sufficient revenue for delivery and promote sustainable water use.
