The Queensland Government has laid out several water infrastructure investments as part of its 2026–27 budget, many of which will involve new pump installations and technologies.
A host of dam upgrades have been slated, including restorations of the North Pine and Lake Macdonald dams, with $545 million over six years to deliver the equivalent of a new dam for the state, more than double the size of the Bjelke-Petersen Dam.
A project to rebuild Paradise Dam will receive $59.8 million, boosting local agriculture and restoring water security for the Wide Bay-Burnett region.
Five new weirs will be built along the Thomson River in Longreach, delivering the Barlil and Cooranga Weirs, as well as the Boyne River and Barambah Creek. The proposed Water for Warrill Irrigation project will also receive additional funding. which is exploring ways to deliver reliable, high-priority water to the Warrill and Fassifern Valleys.
Various measures include the installation of a flood mitigation dam on the Warrill Creek and a pipeline from Wyaralong Dam.
Under Round 2 of the Closing the Gap Priorities Fund, $74 million will be allocated to 21 new projects helping deliver better health and essential infrastructure for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. This includes improving drinking water supply, wastewater management, waste infrastructure and social infrastructure.
A range of critical water security projects across regional and remote Queensland communities including Wujal Wujal, Woorabinda, Cherbourg, Mossman, Mount Morgan, and Cairns will also receive funding.
Seqwater will use $10 million in 2026–27 to investigate potential new dam sites, with a goal to establish the next generation of water infrastructure.
“This budget continues to deliver on our key election commitments by boosting water availability and security right across Queensland through our Watertight Water Security Plan,” Minister for Water, Fire, Disaster Recovery and Volunteers Ann Leahy said.
“Progressing Paradise Dam and key projects across the state will help secure reliable water supply for communities, industry and primary producers well into the future.”
Through the construction of new dams and weirs, and the advancement of irrigation and water security projects, pump manufacturers and distributors will be called on once again to be key partners in the next generation of water builds.
Read the 2026–27 budget overview here.
