A TEMPORARY military-style bridge will be built over Tingalpa Creek to provide access for up to 80 trucks a day as part of the $24 million Leslie Harrison Dam upgrade.
Seqwater has chosen Dam Road – existing access off Mount Gravatt-Capalaba Road – to take heavy vehicles from the construction site.
Seqwater acting chief executive officer Dan Spiller said Dam Road was the option that most people sought during community consultation.
The road was also Seqwater’s preferred route although it had significant challenges.
There were concerns that during high tide or flood events heavy vehicles would not be able to use a culvert crossing of Tinglapa Creek below the spillway.
This meant a secondary access route would also be required to maintain access.
“The community had significant concerns around the environmental, social and safety impacts of the proposed secondary routes,” Mr Spiller said.
“They were also concerned about the cumulative impacts of having to use two routes if the Dam Road creek crossing couldn’t be used all the time.”
Mr Spiller said Capalaba MP Don Brown and Cr Paul Gleeson had challenged Seqwater to find a solution that would avoid a second access route.
“The solution was found through the installation of a temporary bridge structure, capable of supporting heavy loads of up to 44 tonnes,” he said.
Cr Gleeson said Seqwater had chosen the right way to go.
“I told them in my submission that there is no way I would accept those trucks going through Capalaba,” he said.
Cr Gleeson said he still wanted to see the gates restored to the dam.
Redland mayor Karen williams said it was a positive outcome.
“The $24 million upgrade to Leslie Harrison Dam is essential to keep the downstream community safe,” Cr Williams said.
Mr Spiller said light vehicles would use existing access at Larbonya and Willowie crescents to access the site through the Capalba Water Treatment Plant.
Leslie Harrison Dam has been a sore point for locals.
Those who live around the storage are annoyed that Seqwater announced that it would not refit the dam’s gates because it would add $18 million to refurbishment costs.
In 2015 Seqwater removed the gates – fitted by Redland taxpayers in 1984 – as part of engineering investigations and to improve safety.
Seqwater will not refit the gates because most of Redlands drinking water is sourced from North Stradbroke Island and the region also is part of the SEQ water grid.
It means the dam will remain at its original level, disappointing residents who enjoyed more expansive lake views.
In late 2016 the dam also was the site of an investigation after asbestos-contaminated material was dumped, earthworks were conducted on Seqwater property and habitat cleared.
