Cressbrook Dam safety project secures $54m State funding after Federal bid fails

Cressbrook Dam’s safety upgrade has secured a $54 million Queensland Government funding agreement after Toowoomba Regional Council’s unsuccessful $80 million Federal Budget bid. The first milestone payment has been received, with early works construction planned to start in July 2026.

Design packages for the Cressbrook Dam Safety Improvement Project are at either the 100 per cent design stage or the issue-for-construction stage. Enabling works, site mobilisation and procurement are under way.

The report said National Water Grid funding was unavailable for the project. Council is continuing to advocate for funding support while progressing the project under the State agreement.

The dam project’s size affected the headline figures for Council’s 2025/26 capital works program. Actual expenditure was $168.5 million against an original budget of $236.5 million, producing a financial completion rate of 71.24 per cent.

Physical delivery was measured at 97.4 per cent, based on the proportion of projects delivered in line with planned targets. Without the Cressbrook Dam project, the adjusted capital works budget was $140 million and actual expenditure was $143 million, producing a financial completion rate of 102.34 per cent.

The first State funding milestone payment was received during the year, while design reviews, procurement and site mobilisation continued. Early works construction is planned for July 2026.

The Corporate Services Committee recommended that Council note organisational performance for the 12-month period ending 30 June 2026, as outlined in the 2025/26 Operational Plan Progress Report.