Connors River Dam and Pipelines

Project overview*

EIS status	Recommended project proceed subject to conditions and recommendations
Description	A 373,662-megalitre dam, water from which will be transported via a 133 km pipeline to Moranbah and will primarily service coal mines (and associated communities) in Central Queensland’s coal basins.
Proponent	SunWater Ltd (a government-owned corporation)
Location/s	Dam: on Connors River near Mount Bridgett, 110 km east of Moranbah and 70 km south of Sarina Pipeline: will run from the dam to Moranbah Map
Local government/s	Isaac Regional Council
Investment	$1.17 billion
Key features	roller-compacted concrete dam, including a central spillway and aquatic fauna transfer device pipeline associated infrastructure recreational area beside water storage area upgrade of access roads commissioning of temporary resource extraction areas
Expected completion	Mid-2014, subject to relevant approvals being granted for the project and commercial arrangements between Sunwater and customers. (The first filling is expected to occur during the 2014/2015 wet season.)
Jobs	620 (construction) up to 8 (operational)

Environmental impact statement (EIS) process

Date	Activity
20 January 2012	Coordinator-General’s report on EIS released Summary of report (PDF, 229 KB) Full report (PDF, 7.09 MB)
14 March 2011	Supplementary EIS (PDF, 2.4 MB) released Appendix A (PDF, 454 KB) Appendix B (PDF, 714 KB) Appendix C (PDF, 348 KB) Appendix D1 Part 1 (PDF, 2.4 MB) Part 2 (PDF, 1.7 MB) Part 3 (PDF, 2.3 MB) Appendix D2 Part 1 (PDF, 781 KB) Part 2 (PDF, 3.4 MB) Part 3 (PDF, 4 MB) Part 4 (PDF, 3 MB) Part 5 (PDF, 2.5 MB) Part 6 (PDF, 3.7 MB) Part 7 (PDF, 4 MB) Part 8 (PDF, 2.4 MB) Appendix D3 (PDF, 3.4 MB) Appendix D4 (PDF, 745 KB) Appendix D5 (PDF, 752 KB) Appendix D6 (PDF, 1.2 MB) Appendix D7 (PDF, 3 MB) Appendix E (PDF, 433 KB)
6 February 2010 to 22 March 2010	Public consultation on EIS EIS - Executive summary (PDF, 837 KB) Complete EIS
16 July 2009	Terms of reference for EIS (PDF, 314 KB) released.
31 January 2009 to 9 March 2009	Public consultation on draft terms of reference for EIS.
25 September 2008	Project deemed a 'controlled action' by federal environment minister.
28 August 2008	Project referred to federal environment minister.
7 March 2008	Gazettal of ‘significant project’ declaration.
20 February 2008	Application, including initial advice statement (PDF, 528 KB), submitted.

Read more about the EIS process.

Media releases

• Public has say on dam project (8 February 2010)
• Public comment sought on Connors River Dam and Pipelines draft terms of reference (29 January 2009)
• Connors River Dam (29 February 2008)

Australian Government approval

Federal environment minister's approval of 'controlled action', subject to conditions.

Further information

For more information, visit the Connors River Dam and Pipelines webpage.

*Project information supplied by proponent and subject to change.