Moogerah Dam

Location and features

The dam is located above the Fassifern Valley, approximately 60 kilometres (37 mi) southwest of Ipswich. Aratula is the nearest town, approximately 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) from the dam and the nearest major centre is Boonah. The primary inflow of the reservoir is the Reynolds Creek, a tributary of the Bremer River.

Construction on the dam began in 1959, although land for the project was resumed as early as 1916. Completed in 1961 as the central catchment of the Warrill Valley Water Supply Scheme, the concrete dam structure is 38 metres (125 ft) high and 219 metres (719 ft) long and allows access to Mount Edwards in Moogerah Peaks National Park. The 315-thousand-cubic-metre (11.1×10^⁶ cu ft) dam wall holds back the 83,765-megalitre (1.8426×10¹⁰ imp gal; 2.2128×10¹⁰ US gal) reservoir when at full capacity. From a catchment area of 228 square kilometres (88 sq mi) that includes much of the north–eastern slopes of the Main Range, the dam creates Lake Moogerah, with a surface area of 827 hectares (2,040 acres). The uncontrolled spillway has a discharge capacity of 740 cubic metres per second (26,000 cu ft/s). Initially managed by SunWater, management of the dam was transferred to Seqwater in July 2008 as part of a water security project in the South East Queensland region, known as the South East Queensland Water Grid.

The dam supplies drinking water to the towns of Boonah and Ipswich, although the main user is the Swanbank Power Station. It also supplies irrigation water to small crop farms in the Fassifern Valley. SunWater is undertaking a dam spillway capacity upgrade program to ensure the continued safety of the dam. During the 1995 drought dam levels declined to a low of 1% total capacity. The dam reached 100% capacity due to rainfall associated with the 2010–2011 Queensland floods, with water flowing over the spillway for the first time since 1991 on 6 December 2010.

Recreation

Amenities adjacent to the dam and reservoir include a caravan park. Camp Moogerah is on the eastern shore of the lake, offering cabin accommodation and outdoor activity camps for schools, churches, youth groups, sports clubs etc. On the western shore are School Camps Queensland and Camp Laurence which offer group accommodation camps with educational and adventure activities for school students, family and church groups. On the southern shore is the privately owned and used, Brisbane Grammar School Pepperina Hill Campsite, which is primarily used for grade 8-10 camps throughout the year.

As well as the barbecues and picnic areas available at Lake Moogerah Caravan Park there are a number of barbecues, covered picnic tables, toilet facilities and playgrounds on the opposite side of the lake at Haig Park. This side also provides access to the dam wall. Across the wall is Mount Edwards - a walking trail and hike. The road uphill behind the old kiosk (now a house) leads to a lookout and downhill to a further picnic area and playground at the bottom of the wall on the banks of Reynolds Creek.

School Camps Queensland operates camping and family cabins that sleep up to 12 people in each cabin during school holidays and weekends. Scenic Rim Regional Council operate a caravan park at the end of Muller Park road. It offers a variety of accommodation (powered, unpowered tent and caravan sites, overnight cabin and house and permanent cabins). Other site facilities include electric and wood barbecues, two boat ramps, kiosk (bread, milk, ice, firewood and sundries), kayak hire and children's playground. Lake Moogerah Caravan Park is located near many of the areas attractions and activities, including wineries, national parks and Lake Moogerah.

In September 2014 a designated swimming area at A G Muller Park was opened to the public. Lake Moogerah is extremely popular for waterskiing and plays host to jetski and waterskiing events throughout the year.

A stocked impoundment permit is required to fish in the dam. Permits are available from the manager at Lake Moogerah Caravan Park.

Events

The Moogerah Passion Play is an open-air theatre production on the shores of Lake Moogerah. It is held every Easter, with a cast of up to 80.