Follow us
Youtube Facebook Twitter Instagram
We are currently undertaking a significant safety improvement project at Cressbrook Dam. Cressbrook Dam is the Toowoomba Region’s key source of drinking water, servicing over 180,000 residents. Water from the dam is pumped to Council’s Mt Kynoch Water Treatment Plant, supplying Toowoomba and many local towns as part of Council’s bulk water supply scheme.
Dams are long-life assets that require continuous assessment, monitoring, and maintenance.
The safety improvements to Cressbrook Dam, including widening the spillway and raising the crest, will ensure the dam can pass larger volumes of water.This project does not increase the volume of water that can be stored in the dam.
This project is a $270 million local government project legislated by the Queensland Government’s safety requirements set out in the Water Supply (Safety and Reliability) Act 2008.
Improving Cressbrook Dam:
Construction work will include:
Other works will include establishing site facilities, preparing local access roads and creek crossings which will be used by the team during construction activities, and restoring areas affected by construction. More details on the local road and creek crossing works can be found below.
Indicative as at November 2024.
Phone: 131 872
Email us with questions or to receive progress updates at: cressbrooksafetyimprovement@tr.qld.gov.au.
This project is currently in the design phase. During design, the team is delivering early works to gather information about cultural heritage, the dam wall, flora, fauna, hydrology, local roads, rock, and soil.
The next phases to follow include:
16 April 2025: Cressbrook Dam gets a ‘Clean Up Australia Day’ touch2 April 2025: Cressbrook team makes early connections with local emergency services24 March 2025: Cressbrook Dam Safety Improvement Project progressing well, meeting Regulator’s current compliance requirements4 February 2025: Council’s priority is Cressbrook Dam in budget submissions15 January 2025: Mayor McDonald highlights TRC’s key opportunities for 202516 July 2024: TRC changes management of water network to lower Cressbrook Dam5 July 2024: TRC delivers Business Case to State Government for Cressbrook19 June 2024: TRC endorses lowering Cressbrook Dam water level for Cressbrook Dam Safety Improvement Project11 June 2024: TRC recommends lowering Cressbrook Dam water level for Cressbrook Dam Safety Improvement Project9 April 2024: TRC announces Cressbrook Dam Safety Improvement Project as state, federal Budget funding priority19 December 2023: TRC announces Seymour Whyte, SMEC to deliver Cressbrook Dam Safety Improvement Project
April 2025
March 2025
February 2025
The following Toowoomba Regional roads are anticipated to be used by the project to access Lake Cressbrook and the dam:
The project team will monitor the condition of these local roads.
The following Somerset Regional roads may be used by the project to bring equipment and materials to the dam:
Some sections of these roads may be improved before construction starts.
The team will be working Mondays to Saturdays, 6am to 6pm.
Affected residents will be notified before the start of construction and if any work needs to be conducted outside of these hours.
The community may experience some temporary impacts, including dust, lighting and noise from machinery or vehicles, and increased traffic or changed traffic conditions on local roads.
Where possible, the team will work to minimise impacts and will share information about the progress of the project.
Full security measures will be in place on site, including CCTV cameras.
To transport materials safely and efficiently to the dam, we are preparing some sections of Cressbrook Creek and Kipper Creek Roads in Biarra that will be used by heavy and light vehicles during the construction phase.
We are also preparing identified creek crossings to accommodate any dam water releases that may be needed for constructing this project.
We will advise local landholders and the community about the timeframe for preparing sections of these local roads shortly.
The campground, boat ramps and walking trails are expected to remain open and recreational activities such as boating and fishing will continue. Restricted boat access to the spillway area is likely during construction. The community will be advised of any other temporary disruptions to recreational activities at the dam.
When appropriate, we will establish a barge, staff offices and parking, and site security at Lake Cressbrook. These will be separated from the areas the public use.
To safely complete sections of the project scope at specific phases of construction, the dam level needs to be at, or below 70 per cent. Due to this requirement, Council is modelling the best approach and timing for lowering the dam level for the initial construction phases. In the first instance, Council is prioritising the use of Cressbrook Dam for our water network.
Update for March 2025
Currently, due to Ex. Tropical Cyclone Alfred, Cressbrook Dam’s water level has exceeded 100 per cent of its full supply level and is currently spilling. The project team has recently assessed the impact of the most recent rainfall event on the project timeline and has started a controlled water release from the riparian release valve.
Water releases are expected to flow gradually from the dam into the creek system over an extended period of time to minimise downstream impacts.
For more information see TRC changes management of water network to lower Cressbrook Dam.
Cressbrook Dam is a referrable dam and dam safety standards exist to protect communities downstream.
We are applying a risk-based approach to design the safety improvements to As Low As Reasonably Practicable to meet the requirements set out under the Water Supply (Safety and Reliability) Act 2008.
To do this we are following:
We are also applying a rigorous design process, including consulting with:
We are carefully assessing potential risks, including dam failure and flood impacts, and are evaluating risk reduction measures to determine the most effective solutions.
Safety measures are also balanced against factors such as cost, practicality, and environmental impact to find the best solution to ensure safety, efficiency, and sustainability.
This project is the largest dam safety improvement undertaken by a Queensland local government to date and is expected to cost approximately $270 million.
Council has budgeted $270 million for 2023/24 – 2025/26 and is currently seeking external funding to meet the total project cost. A business case requesting Queensland Government project funding was submitted in July 2024.
This project will not affect water supply or quality.
Water will continue to be pumped to the Mt Kynoch Water Treatment Plant to ensure that we consistently supply high quality drinking water to the Region.
Cressbrook Dam is located about 40 kilometres north-east of Toowoomba’s CBD and is positioned upstream of Cressbrook Creek and the communities of Biarra and Toogoolawah.
View in Google Maps.
Designed by Farr Evrat & Associates from the early 1970s to 1980, and constructed from 1981 to 1983, the structure is a central core zoned earth-fill embankment with a concrete-lined spillway and chute on the left abutment. The dam first reached full supply level in May 1989.
Council encourages local businesses interested in supplying to the project to register an expression of interest through the project's ICN Gateway webpage. For all other procurement or labour hire enquiries, please email cressbrooksafetyimprovement@tr.qld.gov.au or call 131 872.
This project is being delivered by Toowoomba Regional Council, SMEC Australia, and Seymour Whyte Constructions.
Please provide feedback to help us improve our site.
Processing your feedback...
