Fairbairn Dam

 

 

  •  
CURRENT ALGAE LEVELS  
CURRENT CAPACITY

 

 

STORAGE CAPACITY

 

Mega Litres

HISTORICAL LOW

 

 

HISTORICAL HIGH

 

 

Location

Fairbairn Dam

Selma Road

Gindie

Queensland

4702

Facilities

  • Boat Ramp

  • Car Parking

  • Road Access

  • Lookout

  • Picnic Areas

  • Toilets

  • Rubbish Bins

  • BBQs

  • Treated Water

  • Camping

Additional information

Management

Recreational facilities are owned and managed by Sunwater.

Boating

Boating activities are permitted, however, operators are reminded to read and obey the signs, look for hazards, boat to conditions and stay away from the dam wall by at least 200 metres, as marked by the buoy line, or as signed. Water activities including swimming, kayaking and sailing are permitted among other activities, however, please note the exclusion zones as signed. The boat ramp is owned and managed by Sunwater.

Learn your responsibilities on the water through the Maritime Safety Queensland Boating and Fishing Guide.

Fishing

Fishing is permitted at Lake Maraboon, however, Sunwater does not permit onshore fishing on or near the dam wall. Fishermen are reminded to read the signs and look for hazards. To learn what fish are stocked at this dam, visit the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries website. A Stocked Impoundment Permit (SIP) is required to fish. Permits are available from Fisheries Queensland that set out the conditions under which you can fish at Queensland dams.

Call Fisheries Queensland on 13 25 23 to locate your nearest fishing permit outlet or apply online.

Camping

Privately owned and operated camping and accommodation is available at Lake Maraboon in the designated camping area.

Pets

For everyone’s enjoyment and safety, please keep your pet on a leash or restrained during your visit.

Rubbish

Help us keep all recreational areas clean and tidy by using the rubbish bins provided. If rubbish bins are full or unavailable, please take your rubbish with you. Please also take any seafood rubbish with you to reduce odour.

BBQs

There are recreational BBQs available for use. Please use common sense when around open flame. Contact 000 to report uncontrolled fire.

Antisocial behaviour

If you observe vandalism, antisocial behaviour or any illegal activities, please contact the Police immediately on 000 to ensure we keep the dam safe and enjoyable for all.

Commercial or large group activities

Please note that approval is required for the use of Sunwater land for any organised event or function other than normal visitor activities in approved recreational areas. Events or functions include, but are not limited to fishing, swimming, rowing, boating or skiing competitions or displays, community events, weddings or other organised on-land activities. To gain approval, submit a General Application for Access to Sunwater Land or Infrastructure and Events or contact us on 13 15 89.

Motorcycles and other vehicles

The recreational use of motorcycles and four wheelers within the area and the surrounding private property is strictly prohibited. Please practise caution when driving all other vehicles in the area. The speed limit in the camping area is 20km/h unless otherwise signed.

Hazards

There is a known presence of submerged trees and other objects. Floating objects may be present after an inflow or flood event. Fast flowing water may be released suddenly from an outlet.

Read the signs and stay safe

For your own safety, please take note of the signs around the dam including those regarding private property and trespassing.
The signs indicate hazards to watch out for and areas to avoid. Keep an eye on your children and inform them of the hazards and permitted areas.

Emergency Management

View the Fairbairn Dam Emergency Action Plan, here.

Visitors must adhere to current COVID-19 social distancing guidelines and are encouraged to observe good hygiene practices.

All persons entering Sunwater property at their own risk should exercise due care and attention and must comply with all signs, notices, the lawful directions of Sunwater, Sunwater staff, all laws, regulations and applicable standards (e.g. boating, fire, road usage). All liability of Sunwater (or its subsidiaries) to you or any other person for loss or damage of any kind (however caused, including by negligence) arising from or relating in any way to access to, or use of, Sunwater property is excluded.

Playing safe

Stay safe at dams and weirs by looking out for potential hazards and risks.

Dam history

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Fairbairn Dam during construction, including the single men’s quarters during the building phase

Fairbairn Dam

Emerald may not have become the centre of the food bowl it is today if not for a decision in 1948 by the British Food Corporation to grow sorghum in the area. Sorghum’s success demonstrated the viability of cropping in the region’s rich black soil, and Emerald’s fortunes changed.

As agriculture grew, the need for stable water supplies grew with it, and the decision was made in 1968 to build the giant Fairbairn Dam, the state’s second biggest after the Burdekin Fall Dam. It is named after David Fairbairn, the Federal Minister for National Development at the time.

Construction was completed in 1972 and the storage it formed, Lake Maraboon (Maraboon is a local Aboriginal name for “where the black ducks fly”), holds 1,301,000 ML of water.

The dam’s primary function is to store water for irrigation, industrial and urban use and was not designed for flood mitigation and does not include a flood-mitigation compartment however does provide some flood attenuation benefits to downstream communities.