Leslie Dam
| Leslie Dam | |
|---|---|
The dam in 2025 | |
Leslie Dam Location of the dam in Queensland | |
Interactive map of Leslie Dam | |
| Country | Australia |
| Location | Leslie Dam, near Warwick, Southern Downs Region, Queensland |
| Coordinates | 28°13′02″S 151°55′05″E / 28.217309°S 151.918173°E |
| Purpose |
|
| Status | Operational |
| Opening date | 1965 |
| Built by | Water Resources Commission |
| Operator | SunWater |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Gravity dam |
| Impounds | Sandy Creek |
| Height (foundation) | 33 m (108 ft) |
| Height (thalweg) | 5.5 m (18 ft) |
| Length | 384–424 m (1,260–1,391 ft) |
| Elevation at crest | 473.63 m (1,553.9 ft) AHD |
| Width (crest) | 109.118 m (358.00 ft) |
| Dam volume | 114×103 m3 (4.0×106 cu ft) |
| Spillways | 7 |
| Spillway type | Radial gates (since 1986) |
| Spillway capacity | 5,960 m3/s (210,000 cu ft/s) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Lake Leslie |
| Total capacity | 106,250 ML (86,140 acre⋅ft) |
| Catchment area | 603 km2 (233 sq mi) |
| Surface area | 1,288 ha (3,180 acres) |
| Maximum water depth | 28.9 m (95 ft) |
| Normal elevation | 466 m (1,529 ft) AHD |
The Leslie Dam is a concrete gravity dam across Sandy Creek, a tributary of the Condamine River, located in the epyonomous settlement of Leslie Dam, near Warwick, in the Southern Downs region of Queensland, Australia.[1][2] Completed in 1965 to form Lake Leslie,[3] the reservoir provides irrigation to approximately 124 square kilometres (48 sq mi) of farm land in the region, and supplies potable water to Warwick and surrounding settlements.
Operated by SunWater, the dam was named after Patrick Leslie (1815–1881), an early settler in the region and the first person to buy land in Warwick.[2]
Overview
The dam wall is 33 metres (108 ft) high and in the range of 384 to 424 metres (1,260 to 1,391 ft) long.[a] The resultant reservoir has a capacity of 106,250 megalitres (86,140 acre⋅ft) when full, and covers 1,288 hectares (3,180 acres), drawing from a catchment area of 603 square kilometres (233 sq mi).[4][6]
The initial construction was completed in October 1965 and created a reservoir with 47,119 megalitres (38,200 acre⋅ft) of water storage capacity.[5] In 1986, the dam wall was raised by 3 metres (9.8 ft) and seven controlled hydraulic-operated radial gates were added to the spillway,[4] each 12.74 metres (41.8 ft) wide and 6.64 metres (21.8 ft) high.[5] The improvements resulted in more-than doubling the capacity of the reservoir to 106,250 megalitres (86,140 acre⋅ft).[5]
The dam's highest level was reached on 12 September 1988 when waters in the dam peaked at 20 centimetres (7.9 in) above the spillway.[7] The next highest level was 13 centimetres (5.1 in) above the spillway on 28 May 1990. On 11 February 1995, the dam reached its lowest level ever of 3% capacity.[7]
The Leslie Dam as part of spillway capacity upgrade program commenced in 2008 by SunWater to ensure a consistently high level of safety for the dams under their control.[8][9]
On 5 January 2011, the dam spilled for the first time in more than two decades and all seven floodgates were opened. Downstream of the dam, the Sandy Creek was flooded and the Cunningham Highway was forced to close. Warwick's mayor, Ron Bellingham, called on SunWater to reduce the flow of water from the dam, that was put into effect the following day.[7]
Recreation
On 21 October 2001, sculpltures of Patrick Leslie and his wife, Kate, were unveiled as part of the Centenary of Federation Celebrations and as a tribute to pioneering women. The sculptures are located near the dam wall.[10]
Freshwater fishing and water sports facilities are available on the reservoir.[2] A Stocked Impoundment Permit is required to fish in the dam.[11]
An upgrade of recreation facilities at Leslie Dam was announced in 2022 and completed in 2024.[12]
See also
Notes
References
- ^ "Leslie Dam – dam wall in Southern Downs Region (entry 49998)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
- ^ a b c "Leslie Dam". Sunwater. 2026. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
- ^ "Lake Leslie – reservoir in Southern Downs Region (entry 19220)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
- ^ a b c "Register of Large Dams Australia-2015" (Excel. Requires download. Row 292). ANCOLD. January 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
- ^ a b c d "Leslie Dam: Emergency Action Plan" (PDF). SunWater. Department of Local Government, Water, and Volunteering. Queensland Government. September 2025. pp. 12–13. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
- ^ "Current Water Storage Information". SunWater. Archived from the original on 28 May 2010. Retrieved 18 February 2008.
- ^ a b c Sollars, Jeremy; Garvey, Casandra (7 January 2011). "Highway to west re-opened". Warwick Daily News. The Warwick Newspaper Pty Limited. Archived from the original on 26 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
- ^ "Spillway Capacity Upgrade Program". SunWater. 2008. Archived from the original on 13 February 2008.
- ^ "Current Projects". SunWater. 20 July 2008. Archived from the original on 20 July 2008. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
- ^ "Patrick & Kate Leslie". Monument Australia. Archived from the original on 8 June 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
- ^ "Fishing in Queensland dams? You may need a permit". Department of Primary Industries. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 29 August 2007.
- ^ "Recreation Facility Upgrade Project: Leslie Dam". SunWater. 2026. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
External links
Media related to Leslie Dam at Wikimedia Commons