Construction on Australia’s newest major water infrastructure asset is now complete.

The $568.9 million Rookwood Weir, west of Rockhampton, is designed to yield 86,000 megalitres each year for Central Queensland.

It is the largest weir completed in Australia since World War 2. It is also the largest piece of new water infrastructure delivered in Australia since the Queensland Government completed Wyaralong Dam in 2011.

The government says the weir will deliver significant benefits to Central Queensland by shoring up the region’s water security and driving economic growth and job creation for generations to come. 

More than 36,000 megalitres of water from the weir has already been allocated to agricultural use, with a mix of small businesses and larger enterprises from the region now able to expand or diversify their operations.

The first water from the weir is expected to be available for use in 2024.

The Rookwood Weir project was delivered by local operator Sunwater, construction partners ACCIONA and McCosker Contracting, and design partner GHD.

The Queensland Government and Darumbal People Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC signed an Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) covering the weir in April 2022.

A water allocation from the weir has been provided to the Darumbal People in perpetuity, while traditional language name will form part of the weir’s official title - Rookwood Weir (Managibei Gamu). This name, given by the Darumbal People, means ‘keeping-saving water.’