The Paradise Dam has the potential to increase net wealth in the region by up to $800 million a year and create more than 7,000 new jobs, Premier Peter Beattie announced today (Wednesday).Premier Peter Beattie was commissioning the $200 million dam which is now officially named the Paradise Dam.
"The naming competition resulted in many letters and even triggered a petition of over 550 locals in support of Paradise Dam," said Mr Beattie.
"It also allows us to remember the pioneers of the region, who mined gold in the town of Paradise, close to the southern end of the dam wall.
"The dam has the potential to increase net wealth in the region by up to $800 million a year and create more than 7,000 new jobs over time as industrial and agricultural businesses get better access to water and expand their activities.
"This project has particular significance for the Burnett region which has been suffering from higher unemployment and slower economic growth than some regions.
"The 300,000 megalitre dam is already 20% full and if summer rains arrive, it will be well on the way to filling up by early next year.
"Operational managers of the dam, SunWater, have already commenced a water sales program.
"Burnett Dam Alliance constructed this dam on time and on budget under the direction of Burnett Water Pty Ltd.
"I thank everyone involved: the workers, the unions, the traditional land owners the alliance partners and local and state government agencies.
"This Smart State initiative is the largest roller compacted concrete dam built in Australia with more than 400,000 cubic metres of roller compacted concrete and 40,000 cubic metres of conventional concrete.
"It was built by the first major Australian competitive alliance, the Burnett Dam Alliance, initially made up of the Walter Construction Group, McMahon Holdings, Hydro Tasmania and Snowy Mountains Engineering Company.
"The alliance overcame the challenge of the Walter Construction Group going into receivership halfway through the job and ensured that no jobs were lost as a result.
"The dam also incorporates a range of innovative features including a state-of-the-art fishway.
"Forty per cent of the peak construction workforce of 450 came from the local Wide Bay/Burnett area, and many of these were able to upgrade their skills with on the job training in civil construction.
"This project has already brought clear economic benefits to the Burnett Region in terms of job creation and local supply of products and services.
"About 200 local businesses supplied products and services during construction."
The Premier said that the special purpose company established to construct the Dam, Burnett Water Pty Ltd, would now become a wholly owned subsidiary of SunWater.
Media inquiries: 3224 4500 December 7, 2005.
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