Leslie Dam

This article is about the dam. For the surrounding locality of the same name, see Leslie Dam, Queensland.

Leslie Dam
Leslie Dam is located in Queensland
Leslie Dam
Leslie Dam
Location11km west of Warwick
Coordinates28°13′02″S 151°55′06″E / 28.21722°S 151.91833°E / -28.21722; 151.91833
TypeReservoir
Primary outflowsSandy Creek
Catchment area603 km2 (233 sq mi)
Basin countriesAustralia
Surface area1,288 ha (3,180 acres)
Max. depth28.9 m (95 ft)
Water volume106,250 ML (86,140 acre⋅ft)[1]
Surface elevation472.4 m (1,550 ft)
References[1]

Leslie Dam is a dam in the locality of the same name Leslie Dam, Southern Downs Region, Queensland, Australia.[2][3] It impounds Sandy Creek, a tributary of the Condamine River, to create Lake Leslie (28°14′12″S 151°54′22″E / 28.2367°S 151.9061°E / -28.2367; 151.9061 (Lake Leslie)).[4] It is 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) from Warwick town centre. It was built for water storage and not for flood mitigation. Freshwater fishing and water sports facilities are available.[3]

History

Leslie Dam was completed in December 1965. The dam and the lake were named after Patrick Leslie (1815–1881), an early settler in the region and the first person to buy land in Warwick.[3]

Spillway, 2018

The dam was extended in 1986, increasing capacity by 100%. The dam's highest level was reached on 12 September 1988 when waters in the dam peaked at 20 centimetres (7.9 in) above the spillway.[5] The next highest level was 13 centimetres (5.1 in) above the spillway on 28 May 1990. On 11 February 1995, the dam reached its lowest level ever of 3% capacity.[5]

On 21 October 2001, sculpltures of Patrick Leslie and his wife Kate Leslie were unveiled as part of the Centenary of Federation Celebrations and as a tribute to pioneering women.[6]

In 2008, SunWater began a dam spillway capacity upgrade program to ensure a consistently high level of safety for the dams under their control, including the Leslie Dam.[7][8]

On the night of 5 January 2011, the dam spilled for the first time in more than two decades. All seven floodgates were opened. The resulting high waters in Sandy Creek closed the Cunningham Highway. The following day SunWater reduced the release rate after requests by Warwick's mayor, Ron Bellingham.[5]

Attractions

Sculptures of Patrick and Kate Leslie, 2006

Two sculptures of Patrie Leslie and his wife Kate Leslie are located near the dam wall.[6]

Fishing

A Stocked Impoundment Permit is required to fish in the dam.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Sunwater Current Water Storage Information". Archived from the original on 28 May 2010. Retrieved 18 February 2008.
  2. ^ "Leslie Dam – dam wall in Southern Downs Region (entry 49998)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "Leslie Dam". Sunwater. Archived from the original on 26 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  4. ^ "Lake Leslie – reservoir in Southern Downs Region (entry 19220)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  5. ^ a b c Sollars, Jeremy; Garvey, Casandra (7 January 2011). "Highway to west re-opened". Warwick Daily News. The Warwick Newspaper Pty Limited. Archived from the original on 26 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Patrick & Kate Leslie". Monument Australia. Archived from the original on 8 June 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  7. ^ Spillway Capacity Upgrade Program Archived February 13, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ "Current Projects". SunWater. 20 July 2008. Archived from the original on 20 July 2008. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  9. ^ Fishing in Queensland dams? You may need a permit. Archived August 29, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
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