Cooranga Weir project ramps up with design contract confirmed

A project to boost water security in the Burnett Region has reached a key milestone with a major contract awarded for a proposed new weir.

Sunwater has appointed Stantec to deliver the design for Cooranga Weir, which will store 2,500 megalitres on the Boyne River downstream of Boondooma Dam. The new weir will improve water reliability and support agricultural productivity across the region.

A separate project, Barlil Weir, is also being planned and will provide an additional 1,500 megalitres of storage capacity on Barambah Creek near Murgon.

The enhanced water reliability from the new weirs will provide opportunities for higher value cropping and agricultural expansion, giving certainty for irrigators for decades to come.

The design phase for Cooranga Weir will support 15 Queensland engineering specialists and includes the required engineering designs, drawings, and construction support to build the nine-metre high and 180-metre-wide weir.

On‑site investigations are also underway, alongside work to identify and progress the planning and environmental approvals required to prepare the site for construction. Upcoming project stages will focus on procurement and early works planning. Sunwater will present design options and cost estimates for Cooranga Weir and Barlil Weir separately to the Queensland Government in 2026 to inform an investment decision.

For me information, read the Queensland Government Ministerial Statement here.