Councils warn of dam costs
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Queensland councils face a $3 billion bill for mandated dam safety upgrades.
Several councils must upgrade dam spillways to prepare for rare, ultra-extreme weather events. However, they argue the cost will strain budgets and deliver little benefit to residents.
South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff has warned that the upgrades, aimed at preventing a rare potential failure, would create “budget black holes” in coming years.
“We just cannot afford to do it,” she told reporters.
The upgrade to Gordonbrook Dam near Kingaroy is intended to protect seven people, but Cr Duff stressed the minimal risk and added; “It may never happen in our lifetimes, or ever.”
Under regulations introduced in 2005, upgrades are required for 38 referable dams - those putting two or more lives at risk - by 2035.
Eight dams, including several owned by councils, need upgrades by 2025. The Queensland Auditor-General estimates the total cost at $3.1 billion.
Toowoomba Regional Council faces a $270 million bill for Cressbrook Dam upgrades.
Mayor Geoff McDonald said the council has seen rate hikes and service cuts to pay for the project.
Cressbrook Dam, already rated for a one-in-8,000-year event, now needs to handle a one-in-470,000-year event.
Cr McDonald noted that while safety is a concern, “it's not adding one extra millimetre into our water supply”.
The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) and councils have called on the state and federal governments for financial support.
LGAQ CEO Alison Smith says councils only receive “three cents in every dollar of taxation raised nationally”, and that many councils lack the resources for such costly upgrades.
Despite the looming state election on 26 October, both major political parties have hesitated to commit funding.
Water Minister Glenn Butcher said support would be considered after reviewing business cases, while LNP Shadow Water Minister Deb Frecklington expressed concerns but stopped short of pledging funds.
