As mentioned in our previous Noosa 360 update, we sent a letter to update the new Queensland Minister for Water that whilst it is vitally important that the dam wall is upgraded to improve safety and enable greater resilience during flood related events, efforts must be made to minimise heavy haulage impacts as a result of this upgrade. The following has been received in response:

Early works on the Lake Macdonald Dam Improvement Project commenced in early November 2024 and are expected to take around four months to complete. Seqwater has advised that the construction contractor for this project, John Holland, is responsible for sourcing construction materials and recently undertook procurement to engage quarry material suppliers.

As required under the Queensland Procurement Policy, local suppliers are used where possible to support local businesses and this also reduces overall transportation costs as well as community and environmental impacts.

Four quarries, including Kin Kin Quarry, were selected to supply materials for the Lake Macdonald Dam Improvement Project and each will be used as required based on their material availability and suitability and site requirements.

Onsite deliveries of quarried material have commenced via the approved Elm Street and Lake Macdonald Drive route consistent with the approval conditions set by the Office of the Coordinator-General.

Seqwater has advised that a maximum of 22 trucks per day are expected to travel to site for the early works. Seqwater will work with John Holland to closely monitor the trucking movements and to ensure all suppliers are compliant with the approval conditions and control measures.

Control measures for quarry trucks on the Lake Macdonald Dam Improvement Project include:

  • GPS tracking to monitor truck speeds and haulage routes
  • signage and Ultra High Frequency for school buses to communicate and coordinate movements on the road
  • sign-in and sign-out system including QR code registration, to track and monitor truck movements
  • boom gate system to stagger truck movements travelling between the quarry and the project site
  • scheduling of heavy vehicle movements to avoid school pick-up/drop-off times, with early works approved for one quarry truck into and out of site per hour during peak school zone times (7.20 – 8.45 am and 2.30 – 3.45 pm).

The Traffic Management Plan for the main project construction works is being finalised and Seqwater is working with Noosa Shire Council (Council) and the Department of Transport and Main Roads to minimise impacts where possible.

Seqwater will continue to provide you with regular updates as the project progresses.

Thank you again for contacting me and reiterating the importance of this issue to your local community.

Sandy will monitor this and continue her advocacy for a review of the Queensland Procurement Policy.

Further information

For any other enquiries regarding this, please contact Seqwater on 3432 7000 or via projectinfo@seqwater.com.au.

Direct advocacy regarding other matters related to the Seqwater can be directed to the Queensland Minster for Water via lgwv@ministerial.qld.gov.au. Please cc’ our office in via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au and forward any response you receive to us.

For our previous Noosa 360 updates on this, please visit www.sandybolton.com/?s=lake+macdonald.