Big Rocks Weir project

Project overview*

EIS status	EIS active
Description	Proposal to construct 10,000 megalitre weir at Big Rocks on the Burdekin River.
Proponent	Charters Towers Regional Council.
Location/s	The project is located at Big Rocks on the Burdekin River approximately 26 kilometres north of Charters Towers and 24 kilometres upstream of the existing Charters Towers Weir. Map
Local government/s	Charters Towers Regional Council
Investment	Estimated to cost approximately $90 million.
Key features	10,000 megalitre weir approximately 13.0 metres high conventional concrete construction associated fishway structure, saddle dam, and a stilling basin
Construction start date	2026
Jobs	172 full time equivalent (construction)

* Project information supplied by proponent and subject to change.

Date	Activity
Currently	Draft EIS being prepared by proponent.
24 November 2023	Coordinator-General stated a new project declaration lapse date of 9 January 2026.
19 December 2022	Coordinator-General stated a new project declaration lapse date of 9 January 2024.
07 July 2021	Terms of reference for an EIS ( 1.4 MB)
10 May 2021 to 7 June 2021	Draft terms of reference for EIS public consultation ( 1 MB)
29 March 2021	Gazettal ( 247 KB) of ‘coordinated project’ declaration.
29 January 2021	Australian Minister for the Environment decided that the project is a ‘controlled action'. A project that has the potential to have a significant impact on matters of national environmental significance is called a 'controlled action' and requires approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth).
19 January 2021	Initial advice statement ( 70 MB).