Sunshine Coast residents and visitors are able to enjoy new and improved recreational facilities at Ewen Maddock Dam.
Maddock Park has reopened after 12 months. The park features new shelters, tables and benches, a new vessel launch pad and wash bay facility, as well as barbecue facilities, playgrounds, connected concrete pathways and an improved beach sitting area.
Seqwater Chief Executive Officer, Neil Brennan, said dam upgrade work would be completed ahead of schedule.
“With only minor improvements remaining, the Ewen Maddock Dam Upgrade will be finished six months ahead of its original 18-month schedule,” he said.
“Our team seized the opportunity during upgrade work to make numerous improvements to the Ewen Maddock Dam amenity and recreation facilities for the community.
“The essential upgrade could not have been completed ahead of schedule without our project team, the support of local contractors and the community – we would like to thank everyone involved.”
Local Member for Caloundra, Jason Hunt, said the area was sure to be popular.
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“As one of the Sunshine Coast’s most popular recreation dams, I know the community will be eager to use the facilities and make the most of the warm weather,” Mr Hunt said.
The Ewen Maddock Dam Upgrade – Stage 2A, included raising and strengthening the existing embankment walls, installing a chimney filter, and constructing 1.6m high concrete parapet wall to improve the dam’s capacity to withstand extreme weather events.
Completed by local construction firm, Hall Contracting, the $24 million project created about 50 full time jobs, with more than 600 people inducted on site over the 12 months.
For safety, the dam had to be lowered to around 60 per cent capacity to allow construction crews to raise and strengthen the embankment walls.
Following recent rain, the dam has refilled naturally and is now above 85% capacity.