Rookwood flows begin
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Rookwood Weir is now delivering water to Central Queensland.
In a major development for the region's water security and economic growth, authorities have announced Rookwood Weir has started supplying water to the agricultural sector.
As of August 2024, customers have begun drawing water from the weir.
Rural Funds Management has become the first to utilise this resource, using the water to irrigate 2,500 hectares of macadamia orchards in the Lower Fitzroy region.
The state says the weir is poised to generate at least 500 full-time jobs through agricultural expansion, particularly in intensive horticulture projects like macadamias.
Over 36,000 megalitres of water from the weir have been allocated to agricultural enterprises, ranging from small businesses to larger operations.
The weir is designed to yield 86,000 megalitres of water annually, which will play a crucial role in sustaining and growing the region’s agricultural output.
Beyond its economic benefits, the Rookwood Weir project has also been recognised for its sustainability achievements.
The Infrastructure Sustainability Council awarded the project an “excellent” rating for its performance during construction.
This follows its earlier accolades, including the 2023 Premier’s Award for Excellence and the Queensland Major Contractors Association’s Project of the Year Over $100M Award.
The Rookwood Weir is co-funded by the Queensland and Australian governments, each contributing $183.6 million to the $568.9 million project, with additional funding from Sunwater, the state's major bulk water provider.