The Coordinator-General has completed his evaluation report for the Traveston Crossing Dam Stage 1. This information sheet has been prepared as a brief summary and guide only. It is  not a complete re-statement of the report.  For the full report, visit http://www.dip.qld.gov.au/. For further information about the project visit http://www.qldwi.com.au/.

The Coordinator-General acknowledges and appreciates that many residents in the vicinity of the dam have experienced negative impacts on their lives due to potential change and uncertainty. 

The Coordinator-General has considered the social and economic benefits that secure water supplies would deliver to the wider community of South East Queensland. He has balanced these benefits against the impacts on individuals and businesses in the local community due to the disruption and change caused by the dam in its development and ongoing operation.

The Coordinator-General expects that construction and operation of the dam—including the requirement to implement a comprehensive community and economic development program—will create positive outcomes and long-term benefits for the local community in employment, training and recreation.
Economic impacts

The project will include both positive and negative economic impacts. It will provide significant benefits to the local, regional, state and national economies.

For the state, an additional 70 000 megalitres per year of water into the SEQ water supply network will underpin and support continued population and economic growth in Queensland.

For the region, the impacts of the project will be largely positive, with the completed dam expected to give SEQ a more secure and reliable water supply. The dam operation is likely to provide positive benefits for the community as a tourism and recreation attraction.

Negative impacts are mainly associated with changes to ongoing farm management practices for property owners directly affected by the project.

For the local economy, construction of the project will result in positive economic impacts. A large workforce will be required and will provide a range of benefits to the local community through an increase in business activity, use of local services and facilities and additional employment and training opportunities.

Some negative impacts will result as existing agricultural land on directly affected properties is reduced and activity declines for local businesses who service them.

Anticipated long-term benefits to the local community include: 

• capital injection from land being acquired for the project
• timber replanted on purchased land
• up-skilling of local labour force
• increased capacity and capability of local businesses providing goods and services for the project’s construction

The project must comply with the water security arrangements set out in the Water Resource (Mary Basin) Plan 2006. As such, there will be no economic impacts on business downstream who are water–dependant.

Community and economic development program

To offset negative local economic impacts, the proponent must provide funding of at least $20 million to implement a community and economic development program. The program must include $7.8 million to develop and implement a recreational and tourism program.  A series of initiatives, valued at $12.2 million, have been conditioned to support and encourage the sustainable growth of the local economy, especially the local agricultural industry.

Kandanga township

The Kandanga township will be directly affected by an increased level of flooding as a result of the project. Sixteen houses will be fully or partially below the ‘1 in 100 year’ flood line. The proponent has proposed to replace community facilities below this flood line with upgraded facilities on higher ground at Kandanga. These facilities are already subject to intermittent flooding impacts without the project.

The proponent must arrange an independently facilitated consultation process with the Kandanga community and Gympie Regional Council. This will involve developing an integrated master plan outlining measures to mitigate the project’s impact on the Kandanga community and providing at least $3.5 million towards implementation of a master plan for Kandanga.

The consultation process must consider the following measures for inclusion in the master plan:

• providing a replacement swimming pool
• developing sports fields
• providing public hall facilities
• relocating or upgrading the Kandanga Rural Fire Brigade headquarters and training facilities.

Other measures which are identified through the consultation process must also be considered.

The proponent is also required to:

• contribute at least $4 million toward upgrading the sewerage and water supply for Kandanga prior to the completion of dam construction provide at least $2.5 million towards the relocation of the Kandanga Bowls Club.

Kandanga Cemetery

The Kandanga Cemetery is close to the proposed dam’s inundation area and as such there is risk of flooding during major flood events. A grassy verge to reduce flood risk to the cemetery was an option previously identified in consultation with the community.

The proponent is required to continue working with the community to decide on the most appropriate action for the cemetery.

In the absence of a consensus decision, the grassy verge option—as described in the environmental impact statement—is to be implemented as the default option prior to the completion of dam construction.

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Social and economic information sheet ( 85 KB)