Wivenhoe Dam is South East Queensland’s largest drinking water dam, providing water security and important flood mitigation benefits for the region. Completed in 1984, Wivenhoe Dam has been pivotal in delivering a safe and secure supply of water to South East Queenslanders, and has supported the agricultural industry, employment opportunities and recreation in the region for decades.
Part of Seqwater’s Dam Improvement Program, Wivenhoe Dam will be upgraded to ensure it continues to provide ongoing safety, water security and recreation for years to come.
Will Harpham – Executive General Manager, Customer, Strategy, Governance, said the Wivenhoe Dam Improvement Project will ensure the dam meets modern engineering and design standards, which have evolved since the dam was completed in 1984. “Wivenhoe Dam continues to operate safely, and the Dam Improvement Project is focused on ensuring the dam can provide water security and flood mitigation benefits for future generations,” said Mr Harpham.
“Geotechnical investigations were completed at Wivenhoe Dam in October 2024. The works carefully assessed the ground conditions to further understand the dam’s foundations. This work will help to inform the Options Analysis, which is currently underway exploring a range of technical options for the dam upgrade, which is required to be complete by 2035. Wivenhoe Dam is one of the most important assets within the SEQ Water Grid, supplying approximately 50% of South East Queensland’s water supply, and this upgrade will ensure the longevity of the dam into the future,” he said.
Further information:
- The Wivenhoe Dam wall is 2.3 kilometres long, with five radial gates to release water. It has a catchment area of more than 7000km2.
- At full supply level, Wivenhoe will hold 1.165 million megalitres of water. During a flood, it is designed to hold back close to two million megalitres on top of its drinking water storage capacity. The extra water is temporarily stored in the flood storage compartment for flood mitigation purposes.
- Approximately a quarter of a million people visited Lake Wivenhoe recreation sites in 2024-25.
- At Lake Wivenhoe, visitors can boat, sail, use paddle craft equipment and fish and swim in the designated areas. Private camping, BBQ and picnic facilities, playgrounds and multi-use trails are also on offer. Rules and restrictions apply, visit the Seqwater Lake Wivenhoe Recreation Guide and check Recreation and Safety notices when planning your trip.
- Take a tour of the Wivenhoe Dam as part of Brisbane Open House. Find out more here – tickets can be booked from Saturday 5 July.