Irvinebank's Ibis Dam, south-west of Cairns in far north Queensland, is to be transferred to the ownership of Tablelands Regional Council in July next year, following a decision by the Queensland Government after local residents fought a State Government proposal to decommission it.

 

The council agreed to take over the dam, subject to a $4.4 million upgrade paid for by the State Government.

 

A spokesman for the Department of Environment and Resource Management said the dam will be upgraded and council staff will be trained before the handover. The upgrade works are expected to be completed by the end of September.