Toowoomba Regional Council has endorsed a motion calling for the State Government to support a comprehensive investigation and feasibility study for a regional raw water supply from the proposed Nathan Dam near Taroom.
Council also ruled out pursuing further investigations into the feasibility of a new Emu Creek Dam, north of Crows Nest.
Toowoomba Region Deputy Mayor and Strategic Water Planning and Capital Delivery portfolio spokesperson, Rebecca Vonhoff, said findings from the Nathan Dam Pre-Feasibility Memo (May 2025) indicated the potential benefits of a regional raw water supply scheme from the proposed Nathan Dam outweighed further consideration of the Emu Creek Dam.
Cr Vonhoff said that the recent study completed by consultants Engeny showed that the Emu Creek Dam would yield half the water (or an estimated 7.4GL per year) compared with the 1996 calculation by the Department of Natural Resources and Water, and along with consideration of other factors, made the project unviable for Council.
“The estimated cost for the Emu Creek Dam scheme is $1.22 billion for a new dam, three pump stations, two reservoirs and approximately 45km of trunk raw water pipelines. This proposal would require significant financial investment and support from the State and Federal governments,” Cr Vonhoff said.
“The Emu Creek Dam Engeny report cost $49,985 and is the first time in almost 30 years we’ve examined how much water we could get from Emu Creek Dam. Water is critical so this is the best money we can spend.
“Knowing that the yield is half what was originally estimated is disappointing but gives us hard numbers and evidence to strengthen our argument for Nathan Dam with the State and Federal governments.”
Cr Vonhoff said that the cost of a pipeline from the proposed Nathan Dam to Toowoomba has been estimated at $750 million, excluding the dam construction costs.
“There is great benefit to us in singing from the same page as the Western Downs Regional Council to push the State Government to investigate a potential raw water supply for the Darling Downs and south-east Queensland,” she said.
“Even, or especially, when our dams are full, we need to plan for inevitable drought.”
Cr Vonhoff said Council would note the latest findings of the Emu Creek Dam Pre-Feasibility Study (May 2025) with the recommendations to be incorporated into Council’s Water Vison 2076.
