Drought resilience for the Southern Downs region
In 2020, Leslie Dam, which provides water supply to Warwick and surrounds, was down to 4% capacity. The Southern Downs region was facing a major drought. The State Government commissioned a feasibility study (PDF, 3.9MB) to investigate options for drought resilience in the region.
Since 2021, we’ve been working with Southern Downs Regional Council (Council), Seqwater and Sunwater to deliver drought resilience projects. This includes a pipeline from Toowoomba to Warwick.
Once complete, the upgraded infrastructure will provide access to new water sources and improve the water security for the region.
Accessing dead storage in Leslie Dam in droughts
There’s some water below the level of the lowest outlet at Leslie Dam. This is known as ‘dead storage’. Upgrades to pumps and water treatment systems are needed to access the additional 1,700ML (megalitres) of dead storage in Leslie Dam. This will provide approximately seven months of additional water supply for the region when needed during drought.
Sunwater is working with Council to install a new removable floating pump pontoon and switchboards. Together with Council’s new pumps, Sunwater’s floating pump pontoon will be able to access the full depth of the dead storage.
These projects are expected to be finished by the end of 2024, weather and construction conditions permitting.
| Project | Responsibility | Details | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leslie Dam: pump upgrade | Southern Downs Regional Council | Installation of new pumps and switchboards | Complete |
| Leslie Dam: dead storage access | Sunwater (working with Council) | Installation of new removable floating pump pontoon and switchboards | Complete |
| Options assessments and conceptual design | Complete | ||
| Final design, procurement, construction and commissioning | In progress |
Saving water by fixing leaks
As water networks age, they may lose more water through leaks. These leaks may be concealed (hidden underground). They cannot be detected unless monitored at households and strategic locations for example water treatment plants and reservoirs. Finding and fixing the leaks early saves water.
Around 9,000 water meters will be installed or refurbished in Warwick, Allora, Yangan, Killarney, Dalveen, Leyburn, Wallangarra and Pratten.
The new network monitoring system tells Council where leaks happen in the network. Fitted with transmitters, the meters give Council real-time information on water use and flow rates. This helps track use, find leaks and save water. Once complete, the system will also automate billing for water rates.
This project is expected to be completed by mid-2026.
| Project | Responsibility | Details | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smart reticulation and network monitoring | Southern Downs Regional Council | Installation or refurbishment of approximately 9,000 meters | In progress |
| Installation of repeater stations, system setup, billing system integration and leakage monitoring | In progress |
Treating water from different sources
The Warwick water treatment plant will treat all water sources available to Council once this upgrade is complete.
This project is expected to be finished by early 2026, weather and construction conditions permitting.
| Project | Responsibility | Details | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warwick water treatment plant upgrade | Southern Downs Regional Council | Water quality assessments Modelling of the options for blending the water supply sources Conceptual design to upgrade the plant | Complete |
| Final design and procurement | In progress | ||
| Construction and commissioning | Not yet started |
The upgraded plant will be able to treat water gained from other drought resilience projects:
- Warwick bore project
- Allora bores project
- Connolly Dam assessment and infrastructure upgrade project
- Leslie Dam upgrade projects
- Toowoomba to Warwick pipeline.
Investigating and developing new sources of water for the region
Southern Downs Regional Council’s investigations found reliable groundwater (also known as underground water) supplies near Warwick and Allora.
In the Stanthorpe area, new groundwater bores are not possible for town water supply. Water volume there is low, unreliable and varies in water quality. The small amount of seasonally available water is generally used for irrigation, stock and domestic purposes. Additional water taken for town water supply would affect water available for these nearby users.
Once the Toowoomba to Warwick Pipeline is complete in 2027, the Alora bores will be connected to the pipeline to increase local water supply, after dilution and treatment at the Warwick water treatment plant.
| Project | Responsibility | Details | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Groundwater investigations | Southern Downs Regional Council | Detailed investigations to identify potential new sources of ground water for the region | Complete |
| Warwick bore | Southern Downs Regional Council | A new bore near Warwick (Lyndhurst Lane) has good yields and water quality It connects to Council’s Warwick Water Supply Scheme for treatment and distribution Permanent town water supply has increased by 100ML each year | Complete |
| Allora bores | Southern Downs Regional Council | Three bores at Allora with reliable water supply have been upgraded and recommissioned An extra 350ML of water is available each year The water is used by Council for activities such as road construction works | Complete |
Providing a back-up water source in droughts
Depending on the water level in Connolly Dam, the dam may provide a secondary water supply source for Warwick, if required during drought. This dam was used in 2020-21 for water carting to supply Stanthorpe during the drought.
| Project | Responsibility | Details | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connolly Dam assessment and infrastructure upgrade | Southern Downs Regional Council | Pump booster system on the Connolly Dam connection to improve its efficiency | Complete |
| Upgrade to the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) to improve controls and operation of the dam | Complete |
Toowoomba to Warwick Pipeline
Seqwater will construct, own, and operate the Toowoomba to Warwick Pipeline (TWP). In droughts, the pipeline will supply water to 24,000 residents in the towns of Warwick, Allora and Yangan.
The pipeline is expected to be finished in 2027, weather and construction conditions permitting.
| Project | Responsibility | Details | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TWP preparatory works | Seqwater | Conceptual design Survey, ecological and geotechnical investigations Capital cost estimates Review of environment and heritage approvals | Complete |
| TWP construction | Seqwater | Preconstruction works | In progress |
| Construction | Not yet started |
Funding for the Southern Downs Drought Resilience package
In April 2021 the Queensland Government allocated $19.34 million to these projects to secure drinking water supplies in the Southern Downs region.
In June 2023 $8.5 million from the Toowoomba to Warwick Pipeline funding was allocated to improve Council’s network monitoring to detect leaks to save water.
More information
- Sunwater has more about Leslie Dam.
- Seqwater has more about the Toowoomba to Warwick Pipeline construction.
Last updated: 20 Jun 2024