Recreation Facility Upgrade Project

Recreation Facility Upgrade Project

Sunwater has been allocated $24.5 million over five years by the Queensland Government to upgrade and maintain recreation facilities of Sunwater assets across the state.

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Project overview

In 2022, the Queensland Government announced Sunwater would receive $24.5 million over five years to upgrade and maintain recreation facilities at Sunwater assets across the state. Upgrade works are being undertaken at:

  • Beardmore Dam
  • Bjelke Petersen Dam
  • Burdekin Falls Dam
  • Eungella Dam 
  • Fairbairn Dam
  • Isis Balancing Storage (Lake Gregory)
  • Kinchant Dam
  • Julius Dam (Lake Julius)
  • Leslie Dam
  • Peter Faust Dam
  • Teemburra Dam
  • Tinaroo Falls Dam
  • Wuruma Dam

The scope of work at each site will vary but may include:

  • upgraded amenities
  • access and mobility improvements
  • landscaping and irrigation
  • upgraded roadways and parking
  • new day use/picnic facilities
  • new or upgraded playgrounds
  • comprehensive signage including the history of the asset or associated water supply scheme.

Project status

As different sites begin construction, Sunwater will keep the community informed about access restrictions and other construction impacts here and on:

Some locations will be minimally impacted, while others may be closed to the public for extended periods of time.

These upgrades will be managed by Sunwater and constructed under various contractual arrangements, including partnership with local Councils where possible.

Beardmore Dam

The picnic and recreation area upgrade is being managed by Balonne Shire Council, and Sunwater has been engaging with Council to fund part of the work. See the Beardmore Dam Master Plan for more information.

Beardmore Dam is located about 21 kilometres north of St George on the Balonne River.

Bjelke-Petersen Dam | Completed

Stage one of the upgrade works was completed in June 2025.

Stage two began in April 2026 involved upgrades to electrical assets and bollards, and additional lighting and accessible paths.

Bjelke-Petersen Dam is located about 10 kilometres southeast of Murgon.

Burdekin Falls Dam | In progress

Upgrades to high voltage electricity cables and other upgrades are currently underway at the Burdekin Falls Dam caravan park and campground.

The facility closed to the public on 16 October 2026 and is due to reopen for the commencement of Queensland school holidays by mid-December 2026.

Burdekin Falls Dam is located about 100 kilometres south of Charters Towers.

Eungella Dam | Coming soon

A detailed design is being finalised with upgrade works planned for commencement in January 2027.

Works will include:

  • new fencing
  • new shelters
  • removal of camping permit registration hut
  • new online camping permit registration form

Eungella Dam is located about 133 kilometres west of Mackay.

Fairbairn Dam | Coming soon

A detailed design for Geoffrey Kavanagh Park and the right bank lookout is nearing completion. Works are scheduled for the first half of 2027 and will include upgrades to:

  • parking areas
  • shelters and seating
  • toilet facilities.

Access to the lookouts will be restricted during construction and traffic control may be operational at times during construction at Geoffrey Kavanagh Park.

Fairbairn Dam is located about 20 kilometres southwest of Emerald.

Isis Balancing Storage (Lake Gregory) | Completed

A new access road was constructed and boat ramp maintenance completed in December 2024.

The Isis Balancing Storage is located halfway between Bundaberg and Childers in North Gregory.

Kinchant Dam | Coming soon

A detailed design is underway, with works planned for the first half of 2027 with upgrades to:

  • parking
  • boat ramp car park
  • shelters and seating
  • toilet facilities
  • lighting.

Access to the boat ramp and lookouts may be restricted during construction.

Kinchant Dam is located about 30 kilometres west of Mackay.

Julius Dam (Lake Julius) | In progress

Upgrade works are in progress with completion due mid-December 2026. There is currently no public access to Julius Dam or Lake Julius during construction for public safety.

The upgrade works include:

  • new tables and shelters
  • new concrete access path to the lookout
  • new fencing and bollards
  • repainting of safety guard rails

Julius Dam is located about 70 kilometres north-east of Mt Isa.

Leslie Dam | Completed

Sunwater showcased the upgraded recreation area to members of the Warwick and surrounding communities at the Leslie Dam Open Day on Saturday 8 June 2024.

The upgrade included:

  • new accessible toilet amenities
  • car park redesign and line marking
  • footpaths and shelter
  • barbecue facilities
  • safety bollards
  • new playground
  • landscaping and irrigation.

Leslie Dam is located about 12 kilometres west of Warwick.

Peter Faust Dam | Coming soon

A detailed design is in progress with works planned for the first half of 2027.

The upgrades will include:

  • new fencing
  • new lighting
  • a new spillway public viewing area

Peter Faust Dam is located about 20 kilometres west of Proserpine.

Teemburra Dam | Completed

Works at Teemburra Dam were completed in November 2025. The works included:

  • new shelter and seating
  • access path to the shelter
  • car park upgrade and marking.

Teemburra Dam is located about 50 kilometres west of Mackay.

Tinaroo Falls Dam | Completed

Works to improve parking and access to the crest spillway viewing walkway are now completed.

The crest view walkway is now open to the public 24/7 (subject to operational closures for public safety)

Tinaroo Falls Dam is located about 100 kilometres inland from Cairns.

Wuruma Dam | Completed

Work to upgrade Wuruma Dam started in August 2025 with the campground, dam wall and lookout reopening to the public in January 2026.

The upgrades include:

  • new accessible toilets
  • new BBQ facilities
  • new picnic tables and shelters
  • concrete slabs for caravans
  • waste dump point
  • new access roads and road resurfacing
  • safety bollards
  • landscaping and irrigation

Stage 2 of the upgrade works began in May 2026 and are now complete. These works saw improvements and new facilities at the boat ramp.

Wuruma Dam is located about 47 kilometres northwest of Eidsvold.