Paradise Dam (Queensland)

Paradise Dam
Paradise Dam (Queensland) is located in Queensland
Paradise Dam (Queensland)
Location of the dam wall in Queensland
CountryAustralia
Location20 km (12 mi) northwest of Biggenden, Wide Bay-Burnett region, Queensland
Coordinates25°21′04″S 151°55′10″E / 25.35111°S 151.91944°E / -25.35111; 151.91944
PurposeIrrigation
StatusOperational
Opening date2005
Construction costA$240 million
Owner(s)Burnett Water
Operator(s)Sunwater
Dam and spillways
Type of damGravity dam; Roller-compacted concrete
ImpoundsBurnett River
Height37 metres (121 ft)
Length600 metres (2,000 ft)
Spillways1
Spillway typeStepped spillway chute with a smooth ogee
Reservoir
CreatesParadise Dam
Total capacity300,000 ML (6.6×1010 imp gal; 7.9×1010 US gal)
Catchment area33,000 ML (1,200×10^6 cu ft)
Maximum water depth38.2 m (125 ft)
Normal elevation67.6 m (222 ft)
Paradise Dam Mini Hydro
Coordinates25°21′04″S 151°55′10″E / 25.35111°S 151.91944°E / -25.35111; 151.91944
Operator(s)SunWater
Commission date2006
TypeConventional
Turbines1 X 2.7 MW Kaplan

The Paradise Dam, also known as the Burnett River Dam, is a roller compacted concrete (RCC) gravity dam across the Burnett River, located between Coringa and Good Night northwest of Biggenden and 80 kilometres (50 mi) southwest of Bundaberg in the Wide Bay-Burnett region of Queensland, Australia. Built for irrigation, the impoundment created by the dam is called Lake Paradise.[1][2]

In September 2019, concerns about the structural stability of the dam resulted in the water levels in the dam being lowered to 42% of its maximum capacity. In 2020 a report found that the roller-compacted concrete was "intrinsically incapable" of achieving the required standard for safety.[3] In 2024, it was announced that the dam would be functionally replaced with an entirely new dam due to these concerns.[4]

  1. ^ "Lake Paradise (entry 44148)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  2. ^ "Paradise Dam Essential Works: Fact Sheet: Roller Compacted Concrete Sampling & Testing" (PDF). SunWater. September 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  3. ^ Marie, Johanna (21 May 2020). "Concrete in Paradise Dam wall may have failed design standard, inquiry finds". ABC News. Archived from the original on 20 July 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  4. ^ Marie, Johanna; Buchanan, Kallee; Varley, Russell (10 January 2024). "Controversial Queensland dam is suffering 'too many issues' and will have to be completely rebuilt, operator says". ABC News. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.