Teemburra Dam
| Teemburra Dam | |
|---|---|
The dam reservoir in 1980 | |
Teemburra Dam Location of the dam in Queensland | |
Interactive map of Teemburra Dam | |
| Country | Australia |
| Location | west of Mackay, Queensland |
| Coordinates | 21°13′08″S 148°39′51″E / 21.218821°S 148.664246°E |
| Purpose | |
| Status | Operational |
| Opening date | 1997 |
| Built by | Thiess Contractors |
| Operator | Sunwater |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Rock-fill dam |
| Impounds | Teemburra Creek |
| Height (foundation) | 56 m (184 ft) |
| Length | 350 m (1,150 ft) |
| Elevation at crest | 295 m (968 ft) AHD |
| Width (crest) | 6 m (20 ft) |
| Dam volume | 552×103 m3 (19.5×106 cu ft) |
| Spillway type | Uncontrolled |
| Spillway length | 60 m (200 ft) |
| Spillway capacity | 950 m3/s (34,000 cu ft/s) |
| Reservoir | |
| Total capacity | 147,500 ML (119,600 acre⋅ft) |
| Catchment area | 87 km2 (34 sq mi) |
| Surface area | 1,107 ha (2,740 acres) |
| Maximum water depth | 54 m (177 ft) |
| Normal elevation | 290 m (950 ft) AHD |
| Website sunwater.com.au | |
The Teemburra Dam is a rock-fill embankment dam, with two saddle dams, across the Teemburra Creek, located near the settlement of Gargett, approximately 50 kilometres (31 mi) west of Mackay, Queensland, Australia. The dam was completed in 1997 to supply potable water and for irrigation purposes.
Overview
The rock-fill structure is 56 metres (184 ft) high and 350 metres (1,150 ft) long. The complex is part of the Pioneer River Scheme and includes two earth-filled saddle dams. The main dam regulates flows into Teemburra Creek, while the Saddle Dam No. 2 supplies water into the Palm Tree Creek pipeline. The pipeline runs 1.8 kilometres (1.1 mi) and is approximately 180 metres (590 ft) lower in elevation than the reservoir full supply level.[1] Collectively, the dam walls create a reservoir that has a capacity of 147,500 megalitres (119,600 acre⋅ft) when full, covers a surface area of 1,040 hectares (2,600 acres) that is drawn from a catchment area of 87 square kilometres (34 sq mi). The uncontrolled spillway can handle 950 cubic metres per second (34,000 cu ft/s)[2][3][4] and delivers water to the adjacent Cattle Creek Valley for irrigation purposes.
Recreation
A Stocked Impoundment Permit is required to fish in the dam.[5]
See also
References
- ^ "Pioneer River Scheme". Sunwater. 2026. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
- ^ "Teemburra Dam". Sunwater. 2026. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
- ^ "Register of Large Dams Australia-2015" (Excel. Requires download. Row 492). ANCOLD. January 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
- ^ "Teemburra Dam Emergency Action Plan" (PDF). Sunwater. September 2025. pp. 22–23. Retrieved 30 March 2026 – via Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers. Queensland Government.
- ^ "Fishing in Queensland dams? You may need a permit". Department of Primary Industries. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 29 August 2007.
External links
Media related to Teemburra Dam at Wikimedia Commons