In July 2006 the Queensland Government announced the proposed construction of the Traveston Crossing Dam on the Mary River to assist in meeting the water needs of South East Queensland.

Following the announcement, a land use and infrastructure planning study was undertaken by the Department of Infrastructure and Planning.

The study looked at the proposed dam’s likely impacts on existing land uses and infrastructure in the Mary Valley, and possible locations for new or expanded land uses and new or relocated infrastructure.

The study, which will run until mid 2008, involves broad land use studies as well as specific investigations of townships and localities affected by the proposed dam.

Thirteen community consultation meetings have been held in Kandanga, Imbil, Carters Ridge and Federal to identify residents’ key issues and concerns regarding the future land use and infrastructure planning options for these townships and localities. The feedback from the community meetings has been fed into the draft land use and infrastructure planning study.

The release of the draft planning study has been put on hold until there is a state and federal government decision on the proposed dam.

If the dam is approved, the draft planning study will be released for public comment—subject to any revisions required as part of the dam’s approval; if the dam does not go ahead, DIP will review the draft study and determine the best way forward in terms of consulting with residents and local councils.

Map of the proposed Traveston Crossing Dam ( 1.3 MB)