Paradise Dam Improvement Project – Stakeholder Engagement

Paradise Dam Improvement Project

Paradise Dam, Queensland

Sunwater is planning for a new Paradise Dam wall on the Burnett River after newly identified issues show that no amount of improvement work will fix the existing dam.

Contact the project team

Engaging our communities

Sunwater values the insights and perspectives that our stakeholders bring. We undertake meaningful engagement activities with stakeholders, customers and communities who are interested in, or impacted by the Paradise Dam Improvement Project.

Our stakeholders include elected representatives, business groups, environmental groups, indigenous groups, government officers, downstream residents and peak bodies.

Our stakeholder groups ensure:

  • there is engagement with relevant stakeholders who can also speak to broader community or industry concerns
  • local community knowledge, skills and concerns can be considered in a project or Sunwater activity in constructive and timely way
  • early identification of ideas, opportunities and potential project risks or constraints are captured to inform ongoing refinements to the project scope
  • we listen to reference group members’ feedback, explore suggestions offered by the group and report back.

We are committed to maintaining open and ongoing communication with all stakeholders and will continue to share updates and seek input as the project progresses.

Paradise Dam Reference Group

The Paradise Dam Reference Group (PDRG) has been established to facilitate the exchange of information and ideas between key stakeholders and Sunwater while the Paradise Dam Improvement Project (PDIP) is implemented. The PDRG Terms of Reference was reviewed and endorsed by members in June 2024.

The PDRG replaces and builds on the productive work of the Paradise Dam Community Reference Group (CRG) and Paradise Dam Industry Forum (PDIF) and is a forum for discussions in relation to community safety, water security, cultural, social and economic and environmental values.

Sunwater will continue to engage with this group to facilitate the exchange of information and ideas between key stakeholders as planning for the new dam wall progresses.

The PDRG held its first meeting on 7 July 2022.

The PDRG is led by Independent Chair Renée Madsen.

Meeting summaries

PDRG members

NameOrganisation
Tracey McPhee^ Bundaberg Regional Council
Dwayne Honor^Bundaberg Regional Council
Gary Everson*Bundaberg Regional Council
Les Hotz*North Burnett Regional Council
Sue Payne^North Burnett Regional Council
Anna Scott*North Burnett Regional Council
Horst Feierabend*Bundaberg Chamber of Commerce
Phil Shannon*Biggenden Chamber of Commerce
Jenifer Waithman^Wide Bay Burnett Environment Council
David Arthur* Wide Bay Burnett Environment Council
Roger Currie*Wide Bay Burnett Environment Council
Anna Hitchcock^Wide Bay Burnett Environment Council
Marisa YoungBurnett Catchment Care Association 
Nick McLean*First Nations Bailai, Gurang, Gooreng Gooreng, Taribelang Bunda
Daniel Reeves^First Nations Bailai, Gurang, Gooreng Gooreng, Taribelang Bunda
Dale Holliss*Bundaberg Regional Irrigators Group
Simon Doyle* Bundaberg Regional Irrigators Group
Ian Dart^Bundaberg Regional Irrigators Group
Mark Pressler^Bundaberg Regional Irrigators Group
Peter McLennan^Canegrowers Isis
Joanne Hall^Canegrowers Isis
Simon Ricciardi*Canegrowers Isis
Bree Watson*Bundaberg Fruit and Vegetable Growers
Russell McCrystal^ Bundaberg Fruit and Vegetable Growers
Michael McMahon*Australian Macadamia Society 
Geoff Chivers*Australian Macadamia Society
Emily Grieve^ Australian Macadamia Society
Eric Carney* Avocados Australia
Lucy Philip*Avocados Australia / Bundaberg Fruit and Vegetable Growers
Nathan Hancock*Citrus Australia 
Alicia Kennedy^Queensland Farmers’ Federation
Jo Martin*Queensland Farmers’ Federation
Tanya Howard*Canegrowers Bundaberg


* Member | ^ Proxy

Public consultation

There are currently no consultations open for submissions.

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Upcoming community engagement

The project team regularly undertakes a range of community information and consultation activities to ensure local voices are heard and considered.

While no events are currently scheduled, this page will be updated with details of any future activities as they are confirmed.

Project and community enquiries

All project related enquiries and complaints are to be directed in the first instance to the project team by either emailing paradise.dam@sunwater.com.au, or phoning the project hotline on 07 3120 0270 – Monday to Friday between 9:00am and 4:00pm.

Media

For media enquiries, please email media@sunwater.com.au or phone 07 3120 0047.