Paradise Dam Improvement Project

Status

Impact assessment report (IAR) active

Jobs

Median construction workforce of 600 (with a peak of 750 workers).

Investment

$4.4 billion

Project overview*

EIS status Impact assessment report (IAR) active
Description Proposal to construct a replacement dam wall to restore Paradise Dam to its original capacity and full supply level, reinstate water supplies to the existing market and provide water security to the Bundaberg and Burnett regions for decades to come.
Proponent Sunwater Limited
Location/s

The project is located on the Burnett River, approximately 20km northwest of Biggenden and 80km south-west of Bundaberg.

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Local government/s
  • Bundaberg Regional Council
  • North Burnett Regional Council
Investment $4.4 billion
Key features
  • construction of a new dam wall approximately 90m downstream of the original dam wall
  • partial demolition and decommissioning of the existing dam wall
  • restoration of the dam to full supply level of 67.6m AHD and storage volume of 300,000 ML
  • realignment of Kalliwa Road and widening of site access road across Allen Creek
Construction start date 2028 (subject to approvals)
Jobs
  • Median construction workforce of 600 (with a peak of 750 workers).

* Project information supplied by proponent and subject to change.

Impact assessment report (IAR) process

DateActivity
Currently Draft IAR being prepared by proponent.
26 March 2026Guideline for the Impact Assessment Report ( 764.1 KB) released.
8 August 2025 Australian Government Minister for the Environment and Water decided the project is a 'controlled action'.

A project that has the potential to have a significant impact on matters of national environmental significance is called a 'controlled action' and requires approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth).

8 August  2025 Gazettal ( 244.0 KB) of ‘coordinated project’ declaration.
2 July 2025 Application, including initial advice statement ( 86.7 MB), submitted.
27 June 2025 Project referred to the Australian Government Minister of the Environment and Water.

Further information

Read more about the IAR process.

Last updated: 26 March 2026

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