Seqwater has commenced construction on the upgrade of Lake Macdonald Dam, a key project in its Dam Improvement Program, to ensure the dam meets modern engineering and design standards, thereby ensuring it continues to operate safely and provide water security for years to come.
The Lake Macdonald Dam Improvement Project includes construction of a temporary cofferdam, a new concrete spillway, an upper labyrinth, and the reconstruction of the existing earth embankments to enhance the dam’s ability to withstand extreme weather events.
Seqwater Executive General Manager, Infrastructure Planning and Capital Delivery, Sarah Dixon, said that while the Lake Macdonald Dam continues to operate safely under normal conditions, Seqwater is committed to investing in the longevity of this important local water source.
“Lake Macdonald Dam was built in 1965 to the safety standards of its time, but the methods used to estimate extreme weather and flood risks have changed significantly since the dam was originally built,” she said.
“Seqwater is proud to mark a major milestone in starting construction on the Lake Macdonald Dam Improvement Project together with our head contractor, John Holland. The dam upgrade will continue to ensure long-term water supply reliability for the Sunshine Coast region,” said Dixon.
The extensive siphon system has been switched on and is partially lowering the lake to allow the works to be undertaken safely. Work has also commenced on the temporary upstream cofferdam, with a 250-tonne crane on site.
More than 1,500 tonnes of sheet piles are being delivered to form the structure of the cofferdam. Over 3,000 rock bags, each weighing approximately 8 tonnes, are being placed downstream of the cofferdam to provide additional structural support.
Additionally, more than 80,000 tonnes of rockfill are being delivered to construct the cofferdam.
This will be the first significant upgrade of Lake Macdonald Dam since its raise in 1980. Notably, more than 150 jobs are expected to be supported throughout the project’s life.
Standard work hours are Monday through Friday, from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Extended work hours will be required for some construction activities, including spillway demolition.
During construction, there will be an increase in traffic around Lake Macdonald. Temporary traffic changes will be implemented, and traffic controllers and temporary signage will be in place as needed.
Recreation activities on Lake Macdonald, via Lake Macdonald Park and the Noosa Botanic Gardens, will remain open; however, some recreational use of the lake and surrounding areas will be temporarily closed for safety reasons due to proximity to the construction area.
Seqwater extends its thanks to the community for their ongoing patience and support during this essential dam safety and water security upgrade. It remains committed to providing regular updates to keep residents informed as work progresses.
The Lake Macdonald Dam Improvement Project is expected to take about five years to complete, weather and site conditions permitting.
To connect with a member of the Seqwater project team, email projectinfo@seqwater.com.au or call 07 3432 7000 (during business hours).
To stay up to date, visit the Seqwater website.
