The following article was published in Construction Industry News on Friday, 5 January 2007. If you don’t want to read the whole article, jump down to my question and comments below.

THE Queensland Government says it is making significant progress in its plans to construct new dams to meet the water needs of the state’s fast-growing southeast.

Acting Premier Anna Bligh yesterday inspected the site for the new Cedar Grove Weir, saying that detailed planning was well underway for the proposed dam at Traveston Crossing in the Mary River Valley and the Wyaralong Dam near Boonah.
Bligh said the Government was working cooperatively with landowners in the Traveston area to make the purchase of land needed for the new dam and currently had reached agreement with 184 property owners.

Bligh also said good progress was being made in preparation for the construction of the Wyaralong Dam.

“There have now been a number of meetings or telephone conversations with all landholders who are directly affected by the Wyaralong Dam proposal,” she said.

“Eight of the 18 properties that are required are owned by State Government and draft terms of reference for the environmental impact statement will be available on January 13.”

Yesterday the State Government also announced a modified plan to allow property owners affected by the new Cedar Grove Weir – to be built on the Logan River – to retain access to their land and the river for grazing purposes.

Bligh said original plans for the weir required the purchase and fencing of a 20m buffer around the inundated area. However, these plans were reconsidered following concern from residents.

“After discussions with landowners we recognised that a compromise solution could be reached that struck the right balance between meeting the environmental and water quality needs of the weir and the needs of landholders,” she said.

Bligh said Cedar Grove Weir would be built 5km downstream of where the Teviot Brook meets the Logan River and will have an anticipated yield of 3000 megalitres a year.

“Initially the weir, which is expected to be built by the end of this year, will capture and store water from the Logan system which will bolster local supplies in the short term,” she said.

“If the proposed Wyaralong Dam receives approval to go ahead, the weir will capture and store water released from the dam when it’s completed at the end of 2010.

“This water will then be pumped into the water grid via the new Southern Regional Water Pipeline under construction between Brisbane and the Gold Coast and due for completion by the end of November 2008.

“When operating in conjunction with Wyaralong Dam, the total system yield is approximately 21,000ML a year.”

Cedar Grove Weir is being delivered by government-owned Queensland Water Infrastructure, which is also responsible for the Wyaralong and Traveston Crossing dams.

In December the company called for expressions of interest from the private sector for a package of works, including Cedar Grove Weir, Bromelton Off-stream Storage and the possible Wyaralong Dam access road. Expressions of interest are due by February 5.

To ensure timely delivery of the project, Bligh said the company has already placed an order for steel sheet piling required for the weir construction.

After the project has been granted the necessary approvals, construction of the weir is expected to commence in April with work due for completion by the end of 2007.