In December 2006, the Queensland Government released the Central Queensland Regional Water Supply Strategy (CQRWSS), outlining a range of strategies to help meet the region’s future water supply needs.

SunWater, a government owned corporation, is the designated proponent for the project for the feasibility investigations up to the development of a business case.

The dam is located on the Connors River near Mount Bridgett in the Isaac Regional Shire approximately 235 km north west of Rockhampton. The proposed dam will be of a roller compacted concrete construction and will include:

• a yield of up to 56 400 megalitres per annum of high priority water with a full supply level of approximately 169.1 metres and a storage volume of approximately 373 700 megalitres
• at least one water pipeline from the storage traveling west to the northern Bowen Basin with an ultimate discharge location likely to be near Moranbah
• fishways and water outlets (fish migration and water release).

The Statewide Water Policy ( 64 KB), issued on 16 August 2006, committed $56.5 million in funding for the Dam and $60 million for associated water distribution pipelines.

Maps and pictures of the proposed Dam site.

• Figure 1 - Connors River Dam (PDF format 1769KB)
• Figure 2 - Connors River Dam (PDF format 174KB)
• Figure 3 - Connors River Dam (PDF format 1005KB)

A Community Liaison Group (CLG) has been established to ensure the local community is well informed about the project and the EIS process. The CLG allows for the identification and discussion of issues associated with the EIS and ensures community feedback to SunWater on related matters.

CCC is a key member of the CLG and has attended both meetings to date. Other members include local business, other environmental groups, community, customer and local government representatives as well as other special interest groups.

The CLG has been established to support the EIS phase of the project, which is expected to run from late 2008 to late 2009. This phase covers the draft Terms of Reference, final Terms of Reference, technical studies and development of the draft EIS, the release of the draft EIS for public comment and the supplementary EIS (if required).

The Draft  Terms of Reference can be found here.

Meetings will be held at regular points throughout the EIS and although they are closed to the general public, the minutes are publicly available for download.

The minutes for these meetings can be found:
*CLG Meeting one
*CLG Meeting two
*CLG Meeting two

For more information concerning this issue

Sunwater