Hinze Dam
Coordinates28.049466°S 153.28449°E
CountryAustralia
LocationSouth East Queensland
Purpose
StatusO
Opening
  • 1976 (Stage 1)
  • 1989 (Stage 2)
  • 2011 (Stage 3)
OperatorSEQ Water
Dam crossesNerang River
Dam height foundation78.4 m (257 ft)
Dam length750 m (2,460 ft)
Dam elevation crest94.5 m (310 ft)
Dam width crest8 m (26 ft)
Dam volume4,261 e3m3
Spillway count1
Spillway length73.6 m (241 ft)
Spillway capacity550 m3/s (19,000 cu ft/s)
Res nameAdvancetown Lake
Res capacity total310,730 ML[1][2]
Res catchment207 km2 (80 sq mi)
Res surface1,505 ha (3,720 acres)
Res elevation72 m (236 ft)
Websiteseqwater.com.au

The Hinze Dam is a rock and earth-fill embankment dam across the Nerang River, located in the Gold Coast hinterland of South East, Queensland, Australia. The main purpose of the dam is for potable water supply of the Gold Coast region.[3][4] The impounded reservoir is called Advancetown Lake.[5][6]

Initially called the Advancetown Dam, in c. 1979 the dam was renamed in honour of local pioneers Carl and Johanna Hinzegrandparents of Queensland politician Russ Hinze. Carl and Johanna Hinze lived in the valley that was flooded by the dam.[7][8] The dam is almost always full, and has reached 96% of capacity even during dry spells.[9]

Location and features

When established in 1976, the dam flooded the original settlement of ,[10][7] 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) south-west of immediately downstream of the confluence of the Nerang River and Little Nerang Creek.[4]

The earthfill dam structure is 108 metres (354 ft) high and 1,850 metres (6,070 ft) long. The 4,261 e3m3 dam wall holds back the 310,730-megalitre reservoir when at full capacity. From a catchment area of 207 square kilometres (80 sq mi) that includes the Numinbah Valley and Plateau, with most being contained within state forests and national parks, the dam creates Advancetown Lake, with a surface area of 1,500 hectares (3,700 acres). The uncontrolled un-gated spillway is located at 82 metres (269 ft) , and has a discharge capacity of 550 cubic metres per second (19,000 cu ft/s).[3][1][11][12] Initially managed by the Gold Coast City Council, the dam has been managed by SEQ Water since 2008.[2]

Since 2011, the dam has also provided the benefit of flood mitigation to populated areas along the Nerang River downstream of the dam.[11]

Construction

The Southport Town Council planned the dam in 1947.[13] It was completed in 1976 and expanded in 1989 and 2011.

Stage One was completed in 1976, and provided 42,400 megalitres of potable water storage and supply.

Stage Two was completed in 1989, when storage of potable water was increased to 161,070 megalitres, at a cost of A$42 million. The works involved raising the main embankment, spillway and intake towers by approximately 18 metres (59 ft) to create a surface area of 9.72 square kilometres (3.75 sq mi).[3]

In 2004 the Gold Coast City Council resolved to construct Stage 3 of the dam and it commenced on 7 January 2008, when the dam reached full capacity[14] and was completed on 19 December 2011 at a cost of A$395 million.[11][2] The Stage 3 works increased the height of the dam wall from 93.5 metres (307 ft) to 108 metres (354 ft), and increased the reservoir capacity from 161,070 megalitres to 310,730 megalitres, with the added purpose of flood mitigation.[11][2][15] Stage 3 construction was completed by the Hinze Dam Alliance, a joint venture between SEQ Water, with private sector partners URS Corporation, Sinclair Knight Merz and Thiess. The additional works with a higher dam wall provided 4,500 homes below the dam wall with flood protection from a 1974 Brisbane–style flood event.[15]

Recreation

The eastern boat ramp is located in Mudgeeraba and features a craft and paddle launching platform as well as toilets and bin facilities. The western boat ramp, located in Springbrook, contains the same amenities with a smaller car park. In 2012 a body was discovered by fishermen.[16]

The Advancetown Lake is a popular recreational facility for Gold Coast residents. Since the Stage 3 upgrade, recreational activities allowed include walking, electric or manual-powered boating, fishing, biking and horse riding. The facilities are open from 6 am to 6 pm daily.[2] No camping is permitted around the lake.[4] Dogs are also not permitted, while swimming has been strongly discouraged.[17] An interpretive centre was opened on 19 December 2011, along with new parking, walking trails, toilet facilities and barbecue areas.[2]

The final design of the dam was criticised in the media and by residents and politicians, some describing it as a "concrete bunker". The criticism arose because of a reduction in playground, boating and barbecue facilities; the banning of dogs; the extensive use of concrete; and because many of the facilities are either far from the water's edge or below the dam wall with no water views.[17]

The Advancetown Lake has two boat ramps, one on the western and another on the eastern side.

Fishing

The dam is stocked with Mary River cod, silver perch, golden perch, southern saratoga and bass, while spangled perch are also present naturally.[4] Banded grunter have been found in the lake and being illegally introduced, it is recommended that, if caught, they should be destroyed.[4] A Gold Coast City Council permit is required to fish in the dam.[18] A Queensland State Government Stocked Impoundment Permit is not required.[19]

From December 2018, Queensland Health advise not to consume fish from Hinze Dam due to elevated levels of mercury in recent fish samples.[20]

2018 Commonwealth Games

The Gold Coast hosted the 2018 Commonwealth Games. The area surrounding the Hinze Dam was originally proposed as the location for the mountain bike competition. A new course was constructed to meet international competition requirements. Some government representatives as well as some mountain bikers have sought to have the competition moved away to the unsecured trails at Nerang State Forest.[citation needed] The Gold Coast Mountain Bike Club maintain the course and sometimes host a race on the circuit the first Sunday of each month.[21]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Hinze Dam: Water supply: Dams and weirs". SEQ Water. 2014. Archived 14 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  2. ^ "Hinze Dam reopens to the public". Hinze Dam / Advancetown Lake. SEQ Water. 19 December 2011. Archived 7 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 25 December 2011.
  3. ^ "Register of Large Dams in Australia" (Excel (requires download; Row 234)). Dams information. Australian National Committee on Large Dams. 2010. Archived 12 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  4. ^ Harrison, Rod; James, Ernie; Sully, Chris; Classon, Bill; Eckermann, Joy (2008). Queensland Dams. , Victoria: Australian Fishing Network. pp. 58–59. ISBN 978-1-86513-134-4.
  5. ^ Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  6. ^ – includes a map
  7. ^ Gundi, Nicole (5 June 2012). "What's in a Name: Hinze Dam" (streaming audio). ABC Radio. Archived 2014-07-14 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  8. ^ Thomson, Alister (25 July 2016). "Hinze dam at Advancetown reaches middle age". Gold Coast Bulletin. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  9. ^ Tehrani, Mahsa Jahandideh; Helfer, Fernanda; Jenkins, Graham (10 July 2021). "Impacts of climate change and sea level rise on catchment management: A multi-model ensemble analysis of the Nerang River catchment, Australia". Science of the Total Environment. 777. Bibcode:2021ScTEn.777n6223J. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146223. hdl:10072/403479. S2CID 233795843. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  10. ^ Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  11. ^ "Hinze Dam Stage 3 Information: Fact sheet" (PDF). SEQ Water. 2011. Archived 2 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  12. ^ "Emergency Action Plan: Hinze Dam". SEQ Water. Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers. Queensland Government. 2025. pp. 12–13. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
  13. ^ "SOUTHPORT'S BIG WATER SCHEME.". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 28 January 1947. p. 3. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  14. ^ "Heavy Gold Coast rains fill Hinze Dam". ABC News. 7 January 2008. Archived 9 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
  15. ^ Lappeman, Suzanne (11 March 2011). "Upgrade of Hinze Dam wall finished". Gold Coast Bulletin. Archived 16 April 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
  16. ^ "Body of man found at Hinze Dam believed to be 58-year-old man missing for a week | Perth Now". 19 October 2012. Archived 27 March 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
  17. ^ Tuttiett, Henry (19 December 2011). "Hinze Dam re-opens after $395m facelift". Gold Coast Bulletin. Archived 10 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 25 December 2011.
  18. ^ "Gold Coast City Council – Fishing". 23 November 2010. Archived 7 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  19. ^ "Queensland Government Primary Industries and Fisheries – Do I need a permit to go fishing in a dam?". 1 July 2011. Archived 12 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  20. ^ "Hinze Dam". Fish Stocked Dams and Weirs. Queensland Government. 11 December 2018. Archived 19 October 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  21. ^ "Hinze Dam". Gold Coast Mountain Bike Inc. 2013. Archived 5 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2 July 2014.