Water & environment · Toowoomba Regional Council
Cressbrook Dam works under way with at least $5m fish-passage cost avoidance forecast
Toowoomba Regional Council says revised Queensland requirements mean its dam safety project does not need fish-passage infrastructure, although the supplied record does not establish that the expected cost avoidance has been realised.
Reporting from draft minutes. Recorded wording may change when confirmed. How this article was prepared
Unconfirmed council minutes record that construction is under way on Toowoomba Regional Council’s Cressbrook Dam Safety Improvement Project, with revised Queensland fish-passage requirements forecast to avoid at least $5 million in additional costs for a project linked to the Region’s water security.
The claim appears in Mayor Geoff McDonald’s monthly report, which says the project was assessed as not requiring fish-passage infrastructure under the revised arrangements. The report also says environmental protections for native fish populations remain in place.
Separate council reporting records early works including minor compound preparation, plunge-pool excavation and on-site access roads. An Audit Committee report from 2 September said construction had commenced and the project scope had changed from the original plans, with no budget impact at that stage.
Financial figures presented to the October meeting show $9.071 million in project capital expenditure against a year-to-date budget of $9.422 million at 30 September. The project’s 2026/27 budget was $81.4 million, and the capital works report listed it as 27 per cent complete on a life-to-date basis.
Those figures do not establish that the projected saving has been secured or that the project is within its final approved cost. The supplied passages do not give a revised completion date or describe the changed scope in detail. The project plan update had also been submitted to the Dam Safety Regulator, with separate reporting recording submission of the project plan to the regulator for approval.
What deserves a closer look
The $5 million figure is an expected avoidance of additional costs, not a confirmed saving or reduction in the final project cost.
The expenditure figures are below the year-to-date budget, but the records also describe a changed project scope, so they do not by themselves establish final cost performance.
The source attributes the fish-passage assessment and expected saving to council reporting and does not independently verify the regulatory assessment or environmental safeguards.
Questions for follow-up reporting
How has the project scope changed from the original plans?
What completion date and final project cost does Council now forecast?
What monitoring and mitigation measures will apply to native fish populations during the works?
Will the expected cost avoidance be reflected in a revised project budget or forecast?
What happens next
Check subsequent council reporting for construction progress.
Seek an update on the approval outcome for the project plan submitted to the regulator.
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
Revised Queensland fish-passage requirements meant the Cressbrook Dam Safety Improvement Project was assessed as not requiring fish-passage measures. The outcome is expected to avoid at least $5 million in additional project costs, while environmental safeguards for native fish populations remain in place.
The Queensland Government's reforms to fish passage requirements have reduced red tape and are accelerating the delivery of water and transport infrastructure projects across the state. Under the revised framework, more than 90 per cent of assessed waterway barrier works, including dams, weirs, bridges and culverts, have not required costly fish passage infrastructure, while appropriate environmental safeguards for native fish populations remain in place. The reforms have directly benefited the Toowoomba Regional Council through the Cressbrook Dam Safety Improvement Project, which was assessed as not requiring to address fish passage under the new arrangements. This outcome is expected to avoid at least $5 million in additional project costs while maintaining environmental protections. The changes provide greater certainty for councils and infrastructure proponents, helping deliver critical projects sooner, improving value for ratepayers and supporting the Region's long-term water security.
Mayor's Monthly Report - October 2026, fish-passage reforms and Cressbrook Dam
Open original minutes ↗The Water and Waste Services report records September 2026 early construction works on the Cressbrook Dam Safety Improvement Project, including minor compound preparation, plunge-pool excavation and on-site access roads.
CARRIED ATTACHMENTS 1. Att 1 - Water and Waste Services Group Report - September 2026 2. Att 2 - Cressbrook Dam Safety Improvement Project Dashboard - September 2026 Page 430 of 463 UNCONFIRMED Attachment 1 Water and Waste Services Group Report - September 2026 Page 431 of 463 UNCONFIRMED CRESSBROOK DAM SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT The Project Team undertook the following work throughout September 2026: •All design volumes are progressing through the final stages of review and finalisation. •Construction activities continue with early works on minor compound preparation, plunge pool excavation and onsite access roads. •Audit Committee Meeting and site tour held 2 September 2026.
Group Reports - September 2026 - Water and Waste Services Group
Open original minutes ↗The Capital Projects by Group table as at 30 September 2026 records an $81.4 million 2026/27 original budget, a $9.422 million year-to-date original budget and $9.071 million in year-to-date actual expenditure for Cressbrook Dam Safety Improvements.
12.35 13.75 14.88 0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 10.00 12.00 14.00 16.00 JulAugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJune Unrestricted Cash Expense Cover Ratio RatioTarget > 2 monthsRates Due 9% 15% 25% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% JulAugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJune Asset Sustainability Ratio Monthly ASRCumulative ASRTarget Page 36 of 463 UNCONFIRMED Attachment 2 Capital Projects by Group Page 37 of 463 UNCONFIRMED Project Description# 2026/27 Original Budget 2026/27 YTD Original Budget 2026/27 YTD Actuals Variance Year to Date Project Complete Life to Date Project Complete $'000$'000$'000$'000 % % Corporate Services ICT Equipment Replacement End User Computing887000 6% 6% Digital Enterprise2,0000007%7% Water and Waste Services Smart Water Meter Program Region Wide1,450450512(62) 35% 95% Cressbrook Dam Safety Improvements81,4009,4229,071351 10% 27% New Southern Water Treatment Plant6001509060 5% 1% Toowoomba to Warwick4,0001,035379656 25% 62% Cooby Dam Inlet Pipe Replacement3,3801,4201,955(535) 57% 91% Toowoomba Waste Centre Vertical Expansion - 41,000645795(150) 80% 92% Environment and Community Services Toowoomba Escarpment Mountain Bike Project5,70020559146 2% 15% Southern Cross Oval Amenities Block4,39360042558 25% 38% Smithfield Park, Harristown1,9279197(6) 25% 38% Black Gully Linear Corridor1,24569212(143) 30% 40% Milne Bay Aquatic & Fitness Centre - Electrification1,2003000300 0% 15% Infrastructure Services Highfields Rd/OBrien Rd/Kratzke Rd Int6,8001,8001,599201 21% 46% Annual Regional Reseal Program4,200020(20) 0% 0% Perth Street Culvert Upgrade3,6009001,120(220) 27% 45% Clifton Pittsworth Road Link U/G3,6001,8001,72179 47% 56% Lower Order Road Upgrade Program2,00020034166 2% 2% Total of Key Capital Projects18129,38219,08717,7081,379 Total of Remainder of Program108107,08115,34424,286(8,942) Total 2026/27 Capital Works Program126236,46434,43141,994(7,563) Note: Key Priority Project as identified by respective Groups Key Capital Projects by Group as at 30 September 2026 Definition for Project % Complete: The point at which all of the work in respect to the construction of a particular component, building, phase or project is complete, apart for minor defects that can be remedied without undue interference or disturbance to an owner/ occupier/ user.
Monthly Financial Performance Statement, Attachment 2 - Capital Projects by Group as at 30 September 2026
Open original minutes ↗The Capital Projects by Group table lists Cressbrook Dam Safety Improvements as 27 per cent complete on a life-to-date basis.
12.35 13.75 14.88 0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 10.00 12.00 14.00 16.00 JulAugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJune Unrestricted Cash Expense Cover Ratio RatioTarget > 2 monthsRates Due 9% 15% 25% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% JulAugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJune Asset Sustainability Ratio Monthly ASRCumulative ASRTarget Page 36 of 463 UNCONFIRMED Attachment 2 Capital Projects by Group Page 37 of 463 UNCONFIRMED Project Description# 2026/27 Original Budget 2026/27 YTD Original Budget 2026/27 YTD Actuals Variance Year to Date Project Complete Life to Date Project Complete $'000$'000$'000$'000 % % Corporate Services ICT Equipment Replacement End User Computing887000 6% 6% Digital Enterprise2,0000007%7% Water and Waste Services Smart Water Meter Program Region Wide1,450450512(62) 35% 95% Cressbrook Dam Safety Improvements81,4009,4229,071351 10% 27% New Southern Water Treatment Plant6001509060 5% 1% Toowoomba to Warwick4,0001,035379656 25% 62% Cooby Dam Inlet Pipe Replacement3,3801,4201,955(535) 57% 91% Toowoomba Waste Centre Vertical Expansion - 41,000645795(150) 80% 92% Environment and Community Services Toowoomba Escarpment Mountain Bike Project5,70020559146 2% 15% Southern Cross Oval Amenities Block4,39360042558 25% 38% Smithfield Park, Harristown1,9279197(6) 25% 38% Black Gully Linear Corridor1,24569212(143)
Monthly Financial Performance Statement, Attachment 2 - Capital Projects by Group
Open original minutes ↗The 2 September 2026 Audit Committee report records that members were advised construction had commenced, the project scope had changed from the original plans and there was no budget impact at that stage.
The Committee noted the report and requested for a dashboard summary of the status of risk management matters be included in future reports. 13.Cressbrook Dam Safety Improvement Project Update Jaek Passier, General Manager Water and Waste Services provided an update on the Cressbrook Dam Safety Improvement Project. Members were advised that construction works have commenced and although the project scope has changed from the original plans, there has been no impact on the budget as this stage. The Committee noted the report. Page 106 of 463 UNCONFIRMED Toowoomba Regional Council Audit Committee 2 September 2026 14.General Business No matters were discussed. 15.Meeting Evaluation Nil.
Audit Committee report - 2 September 2026, Item 13 - Cressbrook Dam Safety Improvement Project Update
Open original minutes ↗A project plan update report was submitted to the Dam Safety Regulator.
•Project plan update report submitted to the Dam Safety Regulator. •Cressbrook Dam achieved the target of 70% in late September. •Refer to Cressbrook Dam Safety Improvement Project Dashboard for further updates (Attachment 2).
Water and Waste Services Group Report - September 2026, Cressbrook Dam Safety Improvement Project
Open original minutes ↗The Cressbrook Dam Upgrade Project Plan was submitted to the regulator for approval.
Dams •Cooby Dam and Perseverance Dam survey data sent to GHD for review. •Cressbrook Dam Upgrade Project Plan submitted to regulator for approval. Active Assets •External audit of the Water and Waste Services Group Essential 8 compliance has been completed and recommendations endorsed by the SOCI board.
Water and Waste Services Group Report - September 2026, Water Infrastructure Services - Dams
Open original minutes ↗Source record
Reporting from the supplied passages of the unconfirmed minutes of Toowoomba Regional Council’s Ordinary Meeting of 27 October 2026, including the Mayor’s report, financial report and attached Water and Waste Services and Audit Committee material. The supplied record is incomplete.
Key facts from the minutes
- Council’s unconfirmed 27 October 2026 minutes record that construction of the Cressbrook Dam Safety Improvement Project has commenced.
- The Mayor’s report says the project was assessed as not requiring fish-passage measures under revised Queensland arrangements.
- Council says the change is expected to avoid at least $5 million in additional project costs while maintaining environmental protections.
- The financial report recorded $9.071 million spent against a $9.422 million year-to-date budget at 30 September 2026.
- The project had an $81.4 million 2026/27 budget and was listed as 27 per cent complete on a life-to-date basis.
Why it matters
- The expected cost avoidance could reduce pressure on a major regional water-infrastructure project and ratepayers, but the final financial effect and the detail of the changed scope are not established in the supplied record.