Burdekin-Murray Scheme

REEF Research Foundation has undertaken to research and develop information on the BMS with the objective of creating an awareness of the significance of this project to regional Australia.

It is hoped this will provide an opportunity for both government and private industry to consider the possibility of undertaking a full feasibility of the project, which if proven to be economically, socially and environmentally acceptable, can move to actual development.

It is not the intention of REEF to become involved in the commercialisation of such a project as the foundation is a not-for-profit organisation established to provide the catalyst for development of projects in accordance with the foundation’s objects under its constitution. Any funding provided to REEF will be used to develop projects in the areas of resources, energy and the environment.

• Mt Foxton Dam is the preferred dam site for the BMS.
• Previously considered sites are deemed unsuitable for the needs of the BMS.
• Burdekin Falls Dam at RL154 lacks the elevation needed to gravity feed even if it is raised to RL160 as currently proposed.
• Hell’s Gate Dam as proposed is significantly smaller in capacity and inflow and can be absorbed within the larger Mt Foxton Dam proposal.

• At RL380, the total volume of the proposed dam is 11,500 GL based on Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) terrain modelling.
• The model calculates the volume enclosed by the SRTM land surface and a fill level to RL380.
• Calculated surface area is ~600 km² based on the SRTM terrain model as pictured.
• Potential exists to construct the dam wall to elevations up to 450m AHD before topographic limits are reached.

• North Queensland is blessed with an abundance of water from reliable monsoon rains but most of this water returns quickly to the ocean. This ‘wasted’ water has the potential to benefit large parts of the whole of eastern Australia, including undeveloped or underdeveloped regions of western Queensland.
• The proposed Mt Foxton Dam (MFD) on the upper Burdekin River when completed will be the third largest constructed dam in Australia and will be located thirty kilometres downstream of the present proposed Hell’s Gate Dam (HGD) and incorporate the area and goals of Hell’s Gate.
• Importantly, Mt Foxton Dam will fulfil the objectives of the Hell’s Gate, Hughenden and BMS proposals, with water being supplied mostly by gravity from two independent discharge free flow gates, one at Reduced Level (RL) 350 and the other at RL300 above Australian Height Datum (AHD), discharging directly into the Burdekin River.

• Water from the Herbert River will be harvested via a constructed tunnel delivering 1,100 Gigalitres (GL) per annum into the upper reaches of the Burdekin River.
• The water flowing through this tunnel will be able to generate Hydro power that can be fed into the State Power Grid.
• Mt Foxton dam will capture all inflows into the upper Burdekin River from surrounding catchment areas above Mt Foxton Dam wall.
• The Proposed Mt Foxton Dam invert level is approximately RL300, while the dam full supply level will be approximately RL380, providing a total storage of 9,000GL.

• A flow control valve at the base of the dam wall at RL300 discharging water directly into the Burdekin River that will maintain the operating capacity in the downstream weirs for the Charters Tower Irrigation District.
  • Note that electrical power for these pumps could be generated by a Hydro Generator at the base of the Mt Foxton Dam.
  • Water will continue to flow on to the Burdekin Falls Dam (BFD) servicing Townsville and the Lower Burdekin Farming Districts.
• A MAJOR control valve station at RL350 which is the principal invert level at the commencement of the Mt Foxton Main Distribution Channel.
  • The level of this station creates the opportunity for a FREE (3,500 GL per annum) open GRAVITY flow OVER THE GREAT DIVIDING RANGE (GDR), taking water further west to support expanded agriculture, mining and related businesses, and enable the growth of existing rural centres and the development of new communities.

• At a location in the vicinity of Lake Galilee a major Transfer Station will control the water distribution to the West and South.
• The Western Flow will continue to numerous transfer stations along the channel for distribution into feeder channels and/or to Pumping Stations required to deliver water to elevated western regions.
• The Southern Flow will be the commencement point for the main Burdekin Murray Scheme channel to southern Queensland and on to the southern States at a reliable rate of 2,500 GL per annum.

This note should be read in conjunction with the attached Schematic Sketch covering the principal management features associated with the proposed Mt Foxton Dam.

(15% of area of Australian mainland)