Council calls for its fair share ahead of dam upgrades

Published on 22 May 2026

Somerset Regional Council will make a submission on the Proposed Ministerial Infrastructure Designation for the Somerset Dam Improvement Project outlining its concerns and desires for the community.

SOMERSET Regional Council will advocate for Somerset Dam Village residents and the wider community as Seqwater progresses plans for the Somerset Dam Improvement Project.

Seqwater’s project aims to enhance the dam’s resilience and support long-term water security for South East Queensland, and includes major works like raising the dam wall, extending and reinforcing the basin, improving the spillway walls and adding concrete on the downstream face of the wall.

The project is forecast to take almost a decade to complete and will be a significant disruption for small towns in the vicinity of the works.

Council will make a submission to the State Government outlining issues related to traffic and road networks, workforce accommodation, resource and waste management, and socioeconomic impacts.

Somerset Mayor Jason Wendt said the Somerset Dam Improvement Project was proposed to take up to ten years.

“Back when Wivenhoe Dam was being built, whole families moved to the Somerset region and raised children during the works, and you can see the positive impact it had on our community decades later,” Cr Wendt said.

“We don’t want the impacts of these new upgrades to Somerset Dam to be swept under the carpet.”

Cr Wendt said Council expected to see a Community Benefits Agreement as part of the dam upgrade, ensuring the development contributes positively to the communities impacted.

“When you consider the billions of dollars they are investing in this project, the money they are talking about putting into the community is chump change,” Cr Wendt said.

“A Community Benefits Agreement would ensure adjacent communities are supported when their liveability and amenity are impacted by construction activity and it would ensure access to social infrastructure is maintained with an influx of construction workers.”

Cr Wendt said Council recommended entering an Infrastructure Agreement with Seqwater regarding maintenance contributions and road upgrades for Stanley Pocket Road.

“We also want to work with Seqwater to determine the unplanned impacts on Council waste facilities, and long-term community benefits through the project’s workforce accommodation.”