World · East Asia & Pacific · 1 hr ago
Julius Dam has supplied water to North West Queensland for 50 years
A severe drought in 1971 showed that Mount Isa, in outback Queensland, needed another reliable water source as the city and its mining industry grew.
Julius Dam was completed in 1976 on the Leichhardt River, about 70 kilometres north-east of Mount Isa.
Its design lets excess water flow over its concrete arches, and it can hold 107,500 megalitres.
The dam supplements Mount Isa’s main supply, Lake Moondarra, and water from it also reaches mining operations and Cloncurry through pipelines.
It has spilled every year for the past decade, as seasonal monsoon and cyclone rainfall replenishes the river catchment.
Its water has helped support regional growth, including mining and nearby communities.
Ongoing maintenance will be essential, with future rainfall patterns, extreme weather and water demand to be considered.
Julius Dam has supplied water to North West Queensland for 50 years.
The dam was officially commissioned on October 8, 1976, after a 1971 drought exposed Mount Isa’s need for another reliable water source.
Located about 70 kilometres north-east of Mount Isa, it can hold 107,500 megalitres.
Its water now supports Mount Isa and mining operations, while pipelines also provide water to Cloncurry.
Lake Moondarra remains Mount Isa’s main water source, with Julius Dam providing supplementary water when needed.
- Who
- Julius Dam supplies water to communities and mining operations in North West Queensland.
- What
- The dam has provided a supplementary water source for 50 years.
- When
- It was officially commissioned on October 8, 1976.
- Where
- At the junction of the Leichhardt River and Paroo Creek, about 70 kilometres north-east of Mount Isa.
- Why
- A 1971 drought exposed the need for another reliable water source as Mount Isa and its mining industry grew.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Mount Isa Mines built Lake Moondarra on the Leichhardt River north of Mount Isa.
A devastating drought exposed Mount Isa’s need for another reliable water source.
Hundreds of workers constructed Julius Dam in remote North West Queensland.
Julius Dam was officially commissioned.
The 113-kilometre North West Queensland Water Pipeline was completed.
A 38-kilometre pipeline was completed, providing Cloncurry with an additional year-round water supply.
- Capacity
- 107,500 megalitres
- Location
- About 70 kilometres north-east of Mount Isa
- Commissioned
- October 8, 1976
- North West Queensland Water Pipeline
- 113 kilometres; completed in 1998
- Cloncurry pipeline
- 38 kilometres; completed in 2010
What people are saying
Because of its remoteness, because of the difficulty of getting materials in, that's the reason they decided to go with that structure
What Lake Julius does is it gives you that real assurance and real surety of supply
The first thing I thought when I saw the dam was, 'Where's the spillway?'
When the water rises higher than the dam is, it simply overtops the dam without harming the structure