Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Water
The Honourable Henry Palaszczuk
20/07/2006

Proposed design and timeframe for Traveston Crossing Dam

The Queensland Government has released the proposed design for the Traveston Crossing Dam in the MaryRiver catchment.

Water Minister Henry Palaszczuk presented the proposed design and announced details of the project at a Parliamentary Budget Estimates hearing in Brisbane today.

Mr Palaszczuk said the Government announced this month it would undertake a three-stage development of water infrastructure in the MaryRiver catchment, including construction of the Traveston Crossing Dam, 16 kilometres south of Gympie.

The full operation of the Traveston Crossing Dam and the raising of Borumba Dam can provide up to 150,000 megalitres each year.

Water from the Traveston Crossing Dam will be critical to securing the region’s future water needs as well as the other initiatives including the new Wyaralong Dam, raising existing dams, a regional water grid, a recycled water scheme for industry, a desalination plant as well as water-saving programs for homes, businesses, industry and local councils.

“Traveston Crossing Dam site is the only site in the region that can provide such large water yields. To replicate that yield in the MaryRiver catchment would require at least three more dams,” Mr Palaszczuk said.

“In terms of the Traveston Crossing Dam, it will have a Roller Compacted Concrete wall type across the valley floor with earth embankment sections on both the left and right abutments.”

“The Roller Compacted Concrete part of the Traveston Crossing Dam design is similar to the new Paradise Dam on the BurnettRiver.”

“The maximum concrete wall height is 59 metres and the length of the concrete wall is 475 metres.”

“In terms of the abutments, the maximum wall height is estimated at 66 metres. The length of the abutment wall on the left abutment is 471 metres and a right abutment is 350 metres.

“So the combined length of the dam wall and the walls of the two abutments is 1296 metres or almost 1.3 kilometres.”

“In order to safely pass floods and to mitigate flooding in Gympie, a concrete-lined is planned.”

“Both upstream and downstream fish passage will be accommodated in the design and the Paradise Dam example is being considered. There will be outlet works to enable releases of water to downstream water users.”

Mr Palaszczuk also detailed the proposed timeframe for the Traveston Crossing Dam project.

The projects will be developed utilising a three phase approach.

Phase 1 - Planning and environmental approvals

This phase will involve undertaking all the necessary background information gathering for the development of the Environmental Impact Study (EIS). This will include the development of Terms of Reference, baseline monitoring, design development, initial construction planning, etc.

The EIS will be developed and released for comment from the public and the referral agencies. The Coordinator General will undertake the assessment and the Commonwealth Department of Environment and Heritage will also be involved in the assessment.

Phase 2 - Tendering and Pre-construction Planning

This phase is undertaken once environmental approval is attained.
The project will be tendered for design and construction by a competing consortia and contracts negotiated for the successful bidder.
Concurrently the pre-construction development approvals will be attained

Phase 3 - Construction and commencement of Operation

Construction of the project and the relocation of affected infrastructure will be undertaken.
Construction will be done, conforming with the approval conditions as identified in the EIS and any subsequent approvals

The proposed dam project timeframe is as follows:

Commence detailed environmental studies by August 2006
Project of significance declaration by end 2006
Draft Environmental Impact Study (EIS) Terms of Reference prepared by late 2006
Commonwealth (Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act) referral by end 2006
More detailed dam design is ongoing
More detailed affected infrastructure design is ongoing
EIS research, monitoring, reporting to be conducted during 2007
EIS available for comment by early 2008
State and Commonwealth assessment by mid 2008
Tendering for construction by early 2009
Construction commences by mid 2009
Construction complete by end 2011