Nathan Dam and Pipelines Project

About the project

The proposed Nathan Dam is located just upstream of Nathan Gorge on the Dawson River, approximately 75 kilometres downstream of Taroom and 315 kilometres upstream of the confluence of the Dawson River with the Fitzroy River. The final storage size will depend on the outcomes of SunWater’s business case, which will call on information from engineering, environmental and social impact studies covering all aspects of the project.

 
Enlarge Map (PDF format 1732KB)

Water from the dam will be transported via a new pipeline to mines and power stations in the Surat Coal Basin, potentially extending as far as Dalby. Water will also be released downstream to mines in the Southern Bowen Coal Basin, to customers in the Dawson Valley Water Supply Scheme, and as required to meet critical urban supply needs in the lower Fitzroy Basin and other parts of regional Queensland in line with the government’s objective to establish a state water grid.

In order to meet anticipated demands, Nathan Dam will need to be supplying water by 2014.

Project background

In 2006 the Queensland Government released its Central Queensland Regional Water Supply Strategy (CQRWSS), which identified Nathan Dam as the preferred short to medium-term water supply solution in Queensland’s Dawson-Callide sub-region.

Through the Statewide Water Policy, it then allocated funding of $120 million for the design and construction of the Nathan Dam and Pipelines Project, subject to the Commonwealth Government’s approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

In July 2007 SunWater was appointed as the proponent to develop the Nathan Dam and Pipelines Project business case. As part of the business case development, detailed studies will be undertaken to determine optimal dam design and costs, expected water availability and demands, and the overall environmental, cultural and social impacts of the Project.

Environmental Impact Statement

The Queensland Government has declared Nathan Dam and Pipelines a ‘significant project’ under the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971, meaning an environmental impact statement (EIS) is required for the project.

The Commonwealth Minister for the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) has declared the Project a ‘controlled action’ under the EPBC Act 1999 with respect to:

• World Heritage properties
• National Heritage places
• Wetlands of international importance
• Listed threatened species and communities
• Listed migratory species, and
• Commonwealth marine areas

This means the EIS will be prepared under a bilateral agreement between the Commonwealth and State governments.

The Nathan Dam and Pipelines Project Terms of Reference (ToR) for the EIS was finalised by the Queensland Coordinator-General on Friday 13 February 2009 and a copy of the document is available on the Department of Infrastructure and Planning website.

The project EIS is currently being prepared in accordance with the ToR, which will document all matters that need to be addressed by the EIS. Once the EIS has been prepared to the satisfaction of the Coordinator-General, the document will be made available for review and comments invited from the public and advisory agencies.

The Coordinator-General will consider all of these comments and in the event that additional information is required, a request will be made to SunWater to provide a supplementary report to the EIS.

The Coordinator-General will release his report on the EIS to the Commonwealth under the bilateral agreement stating whether he approves the project or not. In reaching a conclusion about the EIS, the Coordinator-General will take into account all submissions lodged and accepted and any other material the Coordinator-General may consider relevant to the project.

The report and all related information will be forwarded to the Commonwealth Minister who will then undertake an assessment under the EPBC Act. DEWHA will be involved throughout the EIS process.

SunWater’s business case for the Nathan Dam and Pipelines Project will rely heavily on data from the EIS. The EIS will also provide the basis for statutory approvals required for the Project to proceed to construction.

Current project timeline

Below is the expected timeline for completion of major components of the Nathan Dam project. Some ecological studies have commenced in anticipation of the TOR in order to facilitate seasonal sampling.

Concept design completed	Mid 2008
Initial advice statement published (PDF format 3805KB)	Early 2008
Project status under the EPBC Act agreed	July 2008
Draft ToR for the EIS released	13 Sept 2008
Draft ToR submission period closes	17 Oct 2008
ToR published	13 Feb 2009
Draft EIS completed for consultation	Mid 2009
Supplementary EIS completed (if required)	Mid 2011
Coordinator-General's report	Mid - Late 2011
Federal Minister's decision	Late 2011
If the project is approved:
Business case completed	Mid 2011
Detailed design completed	Early 2012
Construction commences	Mid 2013
Construction/commissioning completed	Mid 2015

Community engagement

SunWater is committed to involving the community in the Nathan Dam and Pipelines Project and is undertaking a comprehensive community consultation program to ensure all stakeholders are informed of the Project, and have the opportunity to learn more and provide feedback on the draft ToR and EIS.

Upcoming community consultation activities will be advertised in local papers, on local community noticeboards and on this website.

Community Liaison Group

The Nathan Dam and Pipelines Community Liaison Group (CLG) is part of SunWater’s comprehensive stakeholder and public consultation program which has been developed for the EIS. It will be one of the mechanisms that SunWater uses to engage the community.

The CLG provides a forum for the identification and discussion of issues associated with the EIS and provides feedback to SunWater on matters related to the EIS.

Membership includes key interest groups in the local area, including business, environmental, community, customer and local government representatives as well as other special interest groups as required.

The CLG will apply to the EIS phase of the project. This phase covers the draft terms of reference, final terms of reference, technical studies and development of draft EIS, the release of the draft EIS for public comment and the supplementary EIS (if required).

Meetings will be held at EIS milestones and although they are closed to the general public, the minutes from the meetings will be publicly available for download.

• CLG Meeting 1 Minutes
• CLG Meeting 2 Minutes
• CLG Meeting 3 Minutes

Further information

If you would like more information about the Nathan Dam and Pipelines Project or have any comments you can:

Phone: 1800 158 651 (free call)

Email: nathandam@sunwater.com.au

Write to:
Nathan Dam and Pipelines Project
EIS Project Team
Reply Paid 15536
City East Qld 4002

You can also download the project newsletters, or contact the project team if you would like the newsletter posted out to you.