Bah Humbug Leslie Harrison.

[Member]

Well looks like no chrissy present this year.
From Redlands times late september this year;

KAYAKERS and canoeists will know by the end of the year whether Capalaba's Leslie Harrison Dam will be opened to non-motorised water sports.

Seqwater spokesman Alena Wilson said the water authority was expecting to have a decision on any potential upgrades to the dam by December.

"The current status is that we are assessing the options based on investigations in the dam carried out over the past year," she said.

"Those investigations have concluded but Seqwater is still determining the nature of any upgrades (at the Capalaba dam)."

She said after the upgrade works was decided on, the authority would have the option of "reassessing" recreational non-motorised sports on the dam.

She also said decommissioning of the dam had not been discussed.

In March 2013, the then Water Minister Mark McArdle said the dam would be opened for water sport and fishing that December, reversing 40 years of tradition.

That decision was overturned three months later when the state government announced a year-long review into opening up dams for recreational sport.

Members of Wynnum Redlands Canoe Club and Queensland Canoeing hoped the dam would one day become an international kayaking venue.

The club claimed the dam was a naturally protected waveless pool with a uniquely flat and fast body of water up to 11m deep in parts - ideal for national kayaking events.

The club released plans in 2013 for a 1km and a 2km kayaking course on the dam with public access away from residences and Seqwater facilities.

Capalaba resident Brett Spink, who lives near the dam, said there was no reason for it to be closed to non-motorised water sports as Redland was on the water grid and got most of its supply from North Stradbroke Island.

“Seqwater is blaming the delays to upgrading the dam wall on safety issues when, in reality, it’s more likely a funding problem,” Mr Spink said.

“It is not a necessary upgrade because not a lot of drinking water comes from the dam, which is why they should open it up for water sports.

“The 2011 flood, a change in government and the merger of the water authorities are some of the other reasons the opening up of the dam has not happened since Seqwater released its recreational management plan in 2009.

“But we’ve been pushing for this for more than four years because it seems such a shame nearby residents can’t use the dam,” he said.


Email to SEQ water this morning.
Sent: Tuesday, 15 December 2015 5:56 AM
To: Recreation
Subject: Leslie Harrison
 
Wondering if the review will be released soon.
Cheers
Ray Kennedy
Response from SEQ Water

Sent: Tuesday, 15 December 2015, 10:29
Subject: RE: Leslie Harrison

Good morning Ray
The recreation review of activities at Leslie Harrison Dam will not be undertaken until the requirements of the dam improvement program are fulfilled.
I can advise that information provided today by the project team is that the dam gates have been removed and the geo tech testing of the structure has been undertaken with the resulting reports currently being considered by Seqwater engineers.  It is hoped that further update on the expected works will be a available in the new year.
 
If you are interested in receiving information about the progress of the dam improvement program you can sign up for e-updates on the following page.
http://www.seqwater.com.au/water-supply/asset-maintenance-construction/dam-improvement-program/leslie-harrison-dam
Regards

[Member]

Bah Humbug indeed !!!

[Member]

Nothing new they're. A while back they stated that there will be no change until the upgrades are completed. Coupla years at least?

[Member]

It's going to be hard to fill it with no gates in the Spillway.

[Member]

Just had a long conversation with Lynn Brough from SEQ water. Apparently that September statement should have never been released.
They had a timetable of when things would happen and it was all dependent on the engineers updating the website with progress reports.
 Guess what engineers failed to update but press release went ahead.
If you log in to http://www.seqwater.com.au/water-supply/asset-maintenance-construction/dam-improvement-program/leslie-harrison-dam
you will be able to get future updates.
Lynn said that a decision will be made before the final works are completed.
 Cheers
Ray

[Member]

Don't hold your breath Ray, it's 2 years and 2 days since they announced that they would re-open Billies Bay at Wivenhoe to the general public.  Locks are still on the gates.

[Member]

Have the council fixed the bridge yet? I thought that was the hold up when I was speaking to Dom about a year or so ago
Cheers
Ray

[Member]

The contract has been let, but work hasn't started yet.

[Member]

but work hasn't started yet.

Yep ... can confirm that. popped in for look a couple of weeks ago and no sign of any work at all to the bridges.

[Member]

There was an issue with the design of the culverts they were going to use, so a redesign was done.

[Member]

oh well, typical

[Member]

I believe it is all go now