Mareeba-Dimbulah Weirs & Barrages

Mareeba-Dimbulah Weirs & Barrages

History

Mareeba Tea Trees Image courtesy of Watery Sauces, A People’s History of the Water Resources Commission (Queensland) and its Predecessors 1881-1995, by Ian Pullar and Margaret Cook, 2001

Mareeba-Dimbulah Weirs

Granite Creek Weir was constructed in 1937 to bring irrigation to Mareeba, initially known as Granite Creek and built on the junction of granite Creek and the Barron River. Dulbil Weir on Tinaroo Creek followed.

Irrigation was extended when the Bruce Weir, which took 2.5 years to construct, was built on the Walsh River around 1948. The Leafgold Weir, that opened in 1952, and Collins Weir were both built on the Walsh catchment above Dimbulah, along with Solanum Weir on Eureka Creek.

At the official opening of Leafgold Weir in July 1952, the Premier Vince Gair said the water was “indispensable to secure the maximum production of our lands.”

The six weirs today are part of the scheme that supplies water for sugar cane, bananas, mangos, avocados as well as general horticulture, tea-trees and coffee plantations.

Did you know?

Over 375 km of channels and pipelines and 61 km of drains support this scheme.

Mass concrete gravity weir with central ogee spillway
Bruce Weir
970 ML

Facilities

  • Boat Ramp

  • Car Parking

  • Road Access

  • Lookout

  • Picnic Areas

  • Toilets

  • Rubbish Bins

  • BBQs

  • Treated Water

  • Camping

Additional information

Management

Bruce Weir is owned and managed by Sunwater.

Public access

There is no public access to the weir or weir area. Sunwater restricts access to the weir infrastructure in order to keep you safe as conditions can be dangerous and unpredictable and water can be released at any time.  

Camping             

Sunwater does not permit camping near the weir.

Boating and fishing

Sunwater does not permit boating or fishing near the weir. Operators who choose to boat or fish in the surrounding waterway (not owned by Sunwater) are reminded to read the signs, look for hazards, boat to conditions and stay away from the weir wall by at least 200 metres or as signed.

Onshore fishing

Sunwater does not permit onshore fishing on or near the weir. Fishing on or near weir walls is unsafe and not permitted by law.

Swimming and water recreation

Sunwater does not permit swimming and water-based recreation near the weir.

Known additional hazards

Visitors accessing downstream of the weir for recreation are warned that water releases can occur at any time.

Mass concrete gravity weir with central ogee spillway
Collins Weir
600 ML

Facilities

  • Boat Ramp

  • Car Parking

  • Road Access

  • Lookout

  • Picnic Areas

  • Toilets

  • Rubbish Bins

  • BBQs

  • Treated Water

  • Camping

Additional information

Management

Collins Weir is owned and managed by Sunwater.

Public access

There is no public access to the weir or weir area. Sunwater restricts access to the weir infrastructure in order to keep you safe as conditions can be dangerous and unpredictable and water can be released at any time.  

Camping             

Sunwater does not permit camping near the weir.

Boating and fishing

Sunwater does not permit boating or fishing near the weir. Operators who choose to boat or fish in the surrounding waterway (not owned by Sunwater) are reminded to read the signs, look for hazards, boat to conditions and stay away from the weir wall by at least 200 metres or as signed.

Onshore fishing

Sunwater does not permit onshore fishing on or near the weir. Fishing on or near weir walls is unsafe and not permitted by law.

Swimming and water recreation

Sunwater does not permit swimming and water-based recreation near the weir.

Known additional hazards

Visitors accessing downstream of the weir for recreation are warned that water releases can occur at any time.

Mass concrete gravity weir with centre and right bank ogee spillways
Dulbil Weir
271 ML

Facilities

  • Boat Ramp

  • Car Parking

  • Road Access

  • Lookout

  • Picnic Areas

  • Toilets

  • Rubbish Bins

  • BBQs

  • Treated Water

  • Camping

Additional information

Management

Dulbil Weir is owned and managed by Sunwater.

Public access

This storage is only accessible to Sunwater through private property. There is no public access to the weir or weir area. Sunwater restricts access to the weir infrastructure in order to keep you safe as conditions can be dangerous and unpredictable and water can be released at any time.  

Camping             

Sunwater does not permit camping near the weir.

Boating and fishing

Sunwater does not permit boating or fishing near the weir. Operators who choose to boat or fish in the surrounding waterway (not owned by Sunwater) are reminded to read the signs, look for hazards, boat to conditions and stay away from the weir wall by at least 200 metres or as signed.

Onshore fishing

Sunwater does not permit onshore fishing on or near the weir. Fishing on or near weir walls is unsafe and not permitted by law.

Swimming and water recreation

Sunwater does not permit swimming and water-based recreation near the weir.

Known additional hazards

Visitors accessing downstream of the weir for recreation are warned that water releases can occur at any time.

Mass concrete gravity weir with centre, right and left ogee spillways
Granite Creek Weir
244 ML

Facilities

  • Boat Ramp

  • Car Parking

  • Road Access

  • Lookout

  • Picnic Areas

  • Toilets

  • Rubbish Bins

  • BBQs

  • Treated Water

  • Camping

Additional information

Management

Granite Creek Weir is owned and managed by Sunwater.

Public access

This storage is only accessible to Sunwater through private property. There is no public access to the weir or weir area. Sunwater restricts access to the weir infrastructure in order to keep you safe as conditions can be dangerous and unpredictable and water can be released at any time.  

Camping             

Sunwater does not permit camping near the weir.

Boating and fishing

Sunwater does not permit boating or fishing near the weir. Operators who choose to boat or fish in the surrounding waterway (not owned by Sunwater) are reminded to read the signs, look for hazards, boat to conditions and stay away from the weir wall by at least 200 metres or as signed.

Onshore fishing

Sunwater does not permit onshore fishing on or near the weir. Fishing on or near weir walls is unsafe and not permitted by law.

Swimming and water recreation

Sunwater does not permit swimming and water-based recreation near the weir.

Known additional hazards

Visitors accessing downstream of the weir for recreation are warned that water releases can occur at any time.

Mass concrete gravity weir with central ogee spillway
Leafgold Weir
260 ML

Facilities

  • Boat Ramp

  • Car Parking

  • Road Access

  • Lookout

  • Picnic Areas

  • Toilets

  • Rubbish Bins

  • BBQs

  • Treated Water

  • Camping

Additional information

Management

Leafgold Weir is owned and managed by Sunwater.

Public access

There is no public access to the weir or weir area. Sunwater restricts access to the weir infrastructure in order to keep you safe as conditions can be dangerous and unpredictable and water can be released at any time.  

Camping             

Sunwater does not permit camping near the weir.

Boating and fishing

Sunwater does not permit boating or fishing near the weir. Operators who choose to boat or fish in the surrounding waterway (not owned by Sunwater) are reminded to read the signs, look for hazards, boat to conditions and stay away from the weir wall by at least 200 metres or as signed.

Onshore fishing

Sunwater does not permit onshore fishing on or near the weir. Fishing on or near weir walls is unsafe and not permitted by law.

Swimming and water recreation

Sunwater does not permit swimming and water-based recreation near the weir.

Known additional hazards

Visitors accessing downstream of the weir for recreation are warned that water releases can occur at any time.

Mass concrete gravity weir with central ogee spillway
Solanum Weir
345 ML

Facilities

  • Boat Ramp

  • Car Parking

  • Road Access

  • Lookout

  • Picnic Areas

  • Toilets

  • Rubbish Bins

  • BBQs

  • Treated Water

  • Camping

Additional information

Management

Solanum Weir is owned and managed by Sunwater.

Public access

This storage is only accessible to Sunwater through private property. There is no public access to the weir or weir area. Sunwater restricts access to the weir infrastructure in order to keep you safe as conditions can be dangerous and unpredictable and water can be released at any time.  

Camping             

Sunwater does not permit camping near the weir.

Boating and fishing

Sunwater does not permit boating or fishing near the weir. Operators who choose to boat or fish in the surrounding waterway (not owned by Sunwater) are reminded to read the signs, look for hazards, boat to conditions and stay away from the weir wall by at least 200 metres or as signed.

Onshore fishing

Sunwater does not permit onshore fishing on or near the weir. Fishing on or near weir walls is unsafe and not permitted by law.

Swimming and water recreation

Sunwater does not permit swimming and water-based recreation near the weir.

Known additional hazards

Visitors accessing downstream of the weir for recreation are warned that water releases can occur at any time.

Disclaimer:  Sunwater makes no statement, representation, or warranties about the accuracy or completeness of, and users should not rely on, any information provided by Sunwater above, or generally in relation to conditions at a Sunwater storage (Information).  Sunwater disclaims all responsibility and all liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages and costs a user might incur as a result of use of such Information, and any Information being inaccurate or incomplete in any way, and for any reason.  Users accept sole responsibility and the risk associated with any use of Information, irrespective of the purpose to which such use or results are applied.