AN $18 million project to strengthen the Leslie Harrison Dam wall, making it more resilient to extreme weather events, has been completed three months early.
Capalaba MP Don Brown said the dam had been built in the 1960s to the engineering and safety standards of the time.
"Since then there have been significant advances in dam design and a greater understanding of the impact of extreme weather events," he said.
During the upgrade the dam wall was strengthened and widened to make it more resilient to extreme floods and extreme events, while the concrete spillway was anchored into the bedrock to increase resilience.
Seqwater built a temporary military style bridge - similar to those used globally for humanitarian emergencies - over Tingalpa Creek as part of the project.
Seqwater chief executive officer Neil Brennan said the bridge had allowed site access while keeping the majority of construction traffic off local streets.
"The temporary bridge also reduced the environmental impacts associated with the creek crossing and helped carry more than 14,000 loads of construction materials to the site," Mr Brennan said.
Mr Brown said the dam was an important asset, providing about 25 per cent of the city's water supply.
"When the dam was built, the population of the Redlands was just 12,500 people. Today it is close to 150,000," Mr Brown said.
"This is the first major upgrade of the dam in more than 30 years and will enable it to better withstand extreme weather events."
Natural Resources Minister Anthony Lynham said the dam had been transformed to meet modern standards in line with Seqwater's dam improvement program.
"This is just part of the Palaszczuk government's $863 million commitment to water infrastructure since December 2017, that has created 1643 jobs for Queenslanders," he said.
Oodgeroo MP Mark Robinson said the dam now had a reduced capacity, which reduced drought readiness.
He said this was coupled with the most expensive water prices in history.
"The gates should have been put back on as per the LNP government's plan and only taken down to allow for maintenance works," Mr Robinson said.
The dam upgrade began in June last year.
Over the next two months Seqwater will do restoration works and remove equipment and temporary infrastructure, including the bridge.
Seqwater will allow tours on community days on June 15 and 16.
For information on how to book, visit yourseqwater.com.au/leslie-harrison-dam-upgrade.
Also read: Leslie Harrison Dam work under way