| Hinze Dam | |
|---|---|
| Spillway tower of Hinze Dam following Stage 3 Upgrade (December 2011) | |
| Location | 15 km south-west of Nerang |
| Lake type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Nerang River, Little Nerang Creek |
| Primary outflows | Nerang River |
| Catchment area | 207 km² |
| Basin countries | Australia |
| Surface area | 970 ha |
| Water volume | 310,730 ML [1] |
| Surface elevation | 82m AHD (above sea level)[1] |
Hinze Dam, also known as Advancetown Lake, supplies most of the water provided to Gold Coast City in Queensland, Australia. It was completed in 1976 and expanded in 1989 and 2011. Advancetown Lake is a popular recreational facility for Gold Coast residents. Hinze Dam was first managed by Gold Coast Water with management of the dam now handled by Seqwater. The dam also provides the benefit of flood mitigation to populated areas along the Nerang River downstream of the dam.
The dam is located 15 km south-west of Nerang immediately downstream of the confluence of the Nerang River and Little Nerang Creek.[2]. The 600 metre long dam was constructed by zoned earthfill embankment. It holds 310,730 ML of water across a surface area of 9.72 km2 (3.75 sq mi), with a full supply waterline at 82 metres above sea level (AHD)[1]. The 207 km2 (80 sq mi) catchment area for Hinze Dam includes the Numinbah Valley and Springbrook Plateau, with most being contained within state forests and national parks.
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The Hinze Dam was designed for construction in 3 stages:
Stage One was completed in 1976, providing storage of 42,400 million litres.
Stage Two was completed in 1989. Storage was increased to 161,070 million litres. This involved raising the main embankment, spillway and intake towers by about 18 metres to create a surface area of 9.72 square kilometres at a total cost of $42 million. In 2004 the Gold Coast City Council resolved to construct Stage 3 of the Dam. This took it from 93.5 metres to its full height of 108 metres for water storage and flood mitigation purposes. The second upgrade was completed in early 2011.[3]
Stage Three was completed on 19 December 2011 when the dam was reopened to the public after nearly 4 years of construction and a cost of $395 million.[1] Work on Stage 3 began on 7 January 2008 when the dam reached full capacity.[4] Hinze Dam Alliance carried out the construction works for Stage 3. The Alliance was made up of Seqwater as the owner, with private sector partners URS, SKM and Thiess. Satge three saw the dam wall raised by 15 metres doubling the storage capacity to 310,730 [1] An extra 3,000 homes were given flood protection from a 1974 Brisbane flood style flood because of the higher dam wall.[3]
Visitor facilities ware closed for 4 years during the Stage 3 upgrade, reopening on 19 December 2011. Following the upgrade, recreational activites allowed include walking, electric or manual powered boating, fishing, biking and horse riding. The facilites are open from 6 am to 6 pm daily.[1] No camping is permitted around the lake.[2]. Dogs are also not permitted, while swimming has been strongly discouraged.[5]
An interpretive centre was also opened on the 19 December 2011, along with new parking, walking trails, toilet facilities and barbeque areas.[1] However the final design of the dam has been 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 barbeque facilities; the banning of dogs; the extensive use of concrete; and because many of the facilites are either far from the waters edge or below the dam wall with no water views. [5]
Advancetown Lake has two boat ramps, one on the western and another on the eastern side.
The dam is stocked with Mary River cod, silver perch , golden perch, southern saratoga and bass, while spangled perch are also present naturally.[2] Banded grunter have been found in the lake and being introduced illegally they should be destroyed if caught.[2] A Gold Coast City Council permit is required to fish in the dam.[6] A Queensland State Government Stocked Impoundment Permit is not required.[7]