Community Reference Group

Update 1 – 29 August 2022, 10:50am

Paradise Dam Community Reference Group

The Paradise Dam Community Reference Group (PDCRG) has been established to facilitate information sharing and discussion of matters relating to the Paradise Dam Essential Works and the Dam Improvement Program.

This includes communicating to, and consultation with, the broader communities and stakeholders with an interest in Paradise Dam.

The PDCRG is led by Independent Chair, Mike McKay APM. Mike was awarded the Australia Police Medal (APM) for his contributions to the Disaster Recovery after Cyclone Larry and later the Grantham and Queensland Floods.

The PDCRG began meeting on 31 October 2019. The first Independent Chair was Major General Richard Wilson (Retd) AO, he handed over to Mike McKay in March 2020.

Its role

The role of the PDCRG is to:

• Establish an effective and efficient communication process between stakeholders and with the community
• Develop stakeholder and community trust and confidence in the Paradise Dam Early Works, Dam Improvement Program, and Dam operations
• Assist Sunwater to ensure that there is engagement with the broader community and relevant stakeholders for preparedness for the forthcoming wet season
• Consider the 2019 Paradise Dam Preparedness IGEM Review and provide feedback on the findings in relation to Sunwater’s responsibilities
• Develop and strengthen long term relationships between stakeholders
• Ensure that community stakeholders are accurately informed about Paradise Dam and associated safety and water security matters
• Allow stakeholders to identify opportunities for better coordination and collaboration in relation to community safety and water security
• Ensure the local community’s knowledge and skills can be considered in a constructive way
• Provide a process to raise concerns, and provide an opportunity for Sunwater to demonstrate how those concerns have been taken into consideration.

In summary, their primary focus of the PDCRG is to provide insight into a diverse range of perspectives on community safety and water security.

PDCRG Terms of Reference

PDCRG Questions and Answers

PDCRG members

Chair	Mike McKay (APM)
Bundaberg Regional Council	Chief Executive Officer Steve Johnston
North Burnett Regional Council	Mayor Rachel Chambers
South Burnett Regional Council	Mayor Brett Otto
Local Disaster Management Group Coordinator	Gavin Steele
Irrigation Customer Reference Group	Peter Greensill
Canegrowers Isis	Mark Mammino
Bundaberg Regional Irrigators Group	Dale Holliss
Bundaberg Fruit and Vegetable Growers	Bree Grima
Bundaberg Chamber of Commerce	Melissa Brooke
Wide Bay Burnett Environment Council	Mike Moller
Community	Rowan Bond
Downstream residents	Kate Shaw and Peter McLennan