Australia’s biggest weir built since World War II opens after delays

A key piece of Queensland water infrastructure costing more than half-a-billion dollars is complete.

Construction of the $568.9 million Rookwood Weir, west of Rockhampton in central Queensland, began in 2020, after years of planning.

Plagued by cost blowouts, delays from the pandemic and inundations, the weir is now waiting to be filled when the catchment gets rain.

“We plan for those inundations, to be fair, the nature of the weather conditions we faced were quite unique … and [the] inundation was over and above the allowance we would have had,” Sunwater chief executive Glenn Stockton said.

“The cost of the work has increased but has been responsibly managed and I’m proud of this outcome.”

Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick said the weir was the largest built in the country since World War II.

“This is generational infrastructure for our state,” he said.

Jointly funded by the federal and state government, and company Sunwater, the weir will have up to 86,000 megalitres of water available annually when fully operational.

Two rounds of water allocations have been finalised via tender, with more than 36,000 megalitres allocated for agriculture.

Rural Funds Management [RFM] a specialist agricultural fund management company, successfully bid for an allocation in the first round, leading to the decision to invest in a large macadamia farm in the region.

‘Reliable’ water source

Dan Edwards, national manager of Rural Funds Group, which RFM manages, said the 2,000-hectare development was cattle grazing land that was being converted to irrigated horticulture.

“It’s got the potential for about $50 million worth of revenue and 60 local staff when we get into operations,” Mr Edwards said.

“Water was always the critical piece, the land is available in a lot of places, we’ve got a climate that’s suitable, but nothing was possible without securing water in enough volume.

“There’s a very reliable water source in the Fitzroy River, it fills and spills, and it will fill and spill multiple times in most seasons.”

The farm is expected to use about eight megalitres of water per hectare.

So far the business has planted 400 hectares, with hopes to start production in the next few years as the trees start to produce and mature.

Feedlot development underway

The company is also using its allocation to create a local feed lot and fertiliser plant.

It has partnered with business Mort and Co to develop a local feed lot, with a capacity for around 40,000 cattle.

Mort and Co General Manager of projects Michael Matthewson said the company would build and operate the feedlot on the land owned by RFM, using RFM’s water allocation from the weir.

With most approvals in place, the company plans to start building the feedlot towards the end of 2024, with a fertiliser plant to follow down the track, creating a total of 75-80 ongoing jobs.

“Over the last three years we’ve been looking from the Tropic of Capricorn, right down to the Victorian border for suitable sites to develop a feedlot,” Mr Matthewson said.

He said the feedlot would use roughly 800 megalitres a year, though it would depend on the season.

Boost for smaller operators

The weir may also help local, smaller operations grow, like Ann Kirk’s cattle and fodder property Weir Park, near Gogango.

She had an allocation of 370 megalitres.

“We barracked for [the weir] 27-30 years ago, we were for it then and we’re still for it now,” Ms Kirk said.

She said it was now a matter of waiting for the weir to fill.

“If there was three or four inches somewhere close by you know one of those big creeks come down, it could be full overnight, it’s in the lap of the gods when it will be filled,” she said.

Sunwater expects water will be available for those with allocations as early as March next year.