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Burdekin Dam

CONTENT: Australia / Burdekin Dam/ Lake Dalrymple / Outback Queensland READ TRAVEL JOURNAL BELOW TRAVEL JOURNAL: 29-31.10.2020 In part 26 of our Far North Queensland Trip we turn South from Ravenswood and follow the Burdekin Falls-Dam Road to Queensland’s largest dam and water reservoir, lake Dalrymple. With maximising the agricultural potential by scientific surveys and technology, in 1970’s was found that to back up the suitable geology and heat, additional water supply was vital for economic development of Burdekin Basin. It was hoped that besides the sugarcane, rice industry would boom. Burdekin Falls Dam was completed in 1987 and lake Dalrymple now holds 4 times the amount of water than Sydney Harbour. In addition to supporting regional agriculture, lake Darlymple supplies water to Townsville which is located 150km north. Burdekin dam is a concrete gravity dam with uncontrolled spillway across the Burdekin river and fills up during wet season rains. The spillway is 504 metre in length and with current drop of 37 metres. There are plans for increasing the spillway capacity and realizing the hydro-electricity potential. The water in Lake Dalrymple is also used to replenish the downstream aquifers and as such builds onto regional groundwater storage. Lake Dalrymple is a popular boating and fishing spot, though it has been warned to do it with special care.The waters of Dalrymple seem not to clear up even long after rains, which makes it difficult to notice any underwater hazards as dead trees and branches. Driving from Ravenswood, the boat ramp was our first encounter with lake Dalrymple. Burdekin Dam is managed by SunWater and the boat ramp offered public toilets with several sheltered picnic benches and rubbish bins, though despite few flowering native species the shores left exposed impression. A short drive from the boat ramp is Burdekin Dam Village, though during our visit it felt more like a ranger office and camping ground. The campground with shaded trees was like an oasis after otherwise fairly arid and sunburnt landscape. SunWater has created a comfortable on spot paying system. At the ranger office there is a machine accepting bank cards or cash. Paying by card is promoted by lower camping fee. We found the 7 dollars for a night for hot showers, shady spot, swimming pool, amazing views to the Dam just a short walk away and free roaming peacocks a bargain. The campground is situated on a hill. The road downhill leads to spillway and the short walk on the hill takes to lookout over the Burdekin falls lookout. Near the lookout is a wide shady area with toilets and sheltered picnic spots, though half of the area was fenced off during our visit and seemed not have been in use for some time. The sunset and sunrise at the lookout were spectacular, the light reflected on the still waters of Lake Dalrymple. In the morning of 30th October we made our way down to the spillway. We walked over the road to the other side of the dry riverbed and then, from opposite shore started to make our way back, but this time over the rocky bottom of the river-bed. There were isolated pockets of water with trapped fish hidden in rocky crevasses. Though in distance, the stream escaping from the spillway looks unremarkable, nearing to the falls of rushing water the pressure and force of the waters the dam has to stand against was very real. The day-heat was catching up and we retreated into the shade of the camping ground and cooling waters of the swimming pool. At sunset, the quietness was broken with the sounds of hundreds of screeching flying foxes departing from the trees which were paving the way to the lookout. In the following morning we once again packed up our rooftop tent. With a minor casualty this time. Departing from sidestep, Agni happened to misplace her foot and landed down on the dusty ground which resulted a twisted left foot. Before heading off to new adventures, we stopped at the other side of the spillway wall and checked out views from the opposite shore. NEXT We navigate our way down to Clermont; explore Peak Ranges National Park with a twisted foot and try our luck fossicking for Sapphires at Tomahawk Creek and Glenalva. On the way down to Carnarvon Gorge we have a look around at Minerva Hills National Park. If you want to see some photos, have a look on our Instagram page.   / sweephorizon   Filmed and edited with IPhone 7 Enjoy watching!!! #sweephorizon