Built in 2005, Paradise Dam is located on the Burnett River about 20km north-west of Biggenden and 80km south-west of Bundaberg.

Sunwater had been progressing the Paradise Dam Improvement Project (PDIP) Detailed Business Case (Stage 2) since December 2021, when the Queensland Government confirmed that the dam would be returned to its full height and original capacity as part of significant safety improvement works. This decision followed significant flood damage in 2010, 2011 and 2013 which required Sunwater to undertake immediate essential works to lower the dam's spillway height and reduce risk to downstream residents.

In early 2024, it was announced that, through intensive testing used to inform design development for the project, unexpected new issues were identified relating to the long-term strength and quality of the dam's concrete. These issues determined that Paradise Dam's concrete will lose strength over time and that the existing dam cannot be returned to its original full supply level.

Sunwater is progressing a detailed business case for a new Paradise Dam wall immediately downstream of the existing structure to ensure a safe and secure water supply for the Bundaberg region for future generations.

Sunwater is working to deliver the detailed business case as quickly as possible and, in the meantime, will continue a range of activities for the new dam wall. These include engineering design and procurement, road upgrades, geotechnical investigations, environmental approvals, civil works and planning for a workers' village.

Delivery Schedule

The Paradise Alliance was announced in early 2024 and comprises Sunwater, GHD - designer, and CPB/Georgiou - construction contractor.

Planning is underway for the new dam wall. Sunwater will work with the alliance across the course of 2024 to develop the procurement pipeline for the next stage of work for the new dam wall.

Expression of interest

Sunwater encourages local industry interested in supplying to the project to register a general expression of interest (EOI) through the ICN Gateway webpage.

Information on specific supply opportunities will be communicated on the ICN Gateway project page as it becomes available, with local industry able to register its interest against them.

Please ensure that:

• Your company profile on the ICN Gateway is complete, up-to-date, and accurate
• You elect to be notified via e-mail of supply opportunities.
• You register your interest as a full or partial scope supplier (where applicable)
• You respond to all project and work package-specific questions.

It is important that businesses submitting an EOI are aware that their submission does not guarantee that they will progress further in the procurement process. Only suppliers that can demonstrate capability and capacity in accordance with Sunwater's requirements will be invited to pre-qualify for specific opportunities.

Further assistance

Sunwater strongly encourage local industry to contact ICN Queensland in the first instance to improve their understanding of the EOI process.

Sunwater's primary contacts are:

Belinda Sarafov

Principal Procurement Advisor - Infrastructure

Belinda.Sarafov@sunwater.com.au

Laura Pelling

Procurement Advisor - Infrastructure

Laura.pelling@sunwater.com.au