Mareeba-Dimbulah Water Supply Scheme Efficiency Improvement Project

The Project

Work has been completed on the Mareeba-Dimbulah Water Supply Scheme to improve operating and distribution efficiency.

As part of our commitment to the long-term sustainability and efficiency of the scheme, $32.54 million was invested in the Mareeba-Dimbulah Water Supply Scheme Efficiency Improvement Project to upgrade infrastructure.

The project was completed in December 2021 and involved:

• 14 km of pipeline:
  • 4.4 km at East Barron 4
  • 2.6 km at Atherton Creek
  • 7 km at Southedge’s West Barron Main Channel
• more than 125 automated channel gates installed in irrigation channels including at Biboohra storage, Southedge, South Walsh and with an increase to in-channel storage at North Walsh and Atherton Creek
• at least 157 customer meter offtakes upgraded
• approximately 95,000 hours spent on construction works.

Water loss reductions across the scheme have been reduced by 11,508 megalitres. These savings are now available for sale in the Mareeba-Dimbulah WSS. As of March 2026, 6184 ML have been sold.

The project, undertaken by Sunwater, was jointly funded – with the Australian Government contributing $11.6 million through the National Water Grid Fund and the Queensland Government contributing $20.94 million.