Kuranda Weir recovery: Restoring renewable energy after Cyclone Jasper
At a glance
After Tropical Cyclone Jasper caused catastrophic damage to Kuranda Weir in Far North Queensland, CleanCo partnered with GHD to rapidly reinstate water storage and power generation capacity. In just six months, renewable energy was restored for approximately 50,000 homes, while protecting local tourism and respecting the cultural and environmental values of the Barron River.
The challenge
When Tropical Cyclone Jasper struck in December 2023, the Kuranda Weir embankment was severely damaged, cutting off water supply to CleanCo’s Barron Gorge Power Station and halting renewable energy generation. This affected local communities, disrupted tourism activities and posed environmental and heritage risks. CleanCo needed a solution that would restore operations quickly, while also strengthening the resilience of this vital infrastructure for the future.
Our response
We worked closely with CleanCo, regulators, Djabugay Traditional Owners and local contractors to deliver a recovery plan balancing urgency and long-term resilience:
- Built a temporary cofferdam under challenging high-flow river conditions, enabling power station operations to resume within six months.
- Designed and constructed a permanent eight-metre-high concrete monolith to provide improved flood resilience.
- Developed and adopted a bespoke low-carbon concrete mix that cut CO₂ emissions by about 60%.
- Implemented real-time monitoring systems to safeguard downstream communities and assets.
- Ensured cultural heritage and environmental protections were in place throughout the project.
The impact
The project reinstated 66MW of renewable energy capacity, securing electricity for around 50,000 homes and restoring water supply and river flows essential for tourism operators. More than 80% of project spend went to local suppliers, boosting the regional economy and supporting over 500 jobs. The project set a benchmark for flood recovery by combining engineering innovation with cultural and environmental care.
Recognition
This is a very good project that was aimed at restoring the Kuranda Weir, which uses water stored from the Barron River for power generation. It is noted that delivery of the project was accomplished in a short amount of time, with the power station being in operation withing six months. Overall, this was a challenging project delivered through a good partnership between the power station owner and the contractor in a quite short amount of time.”
The Kuranda Weir Recovery Project, delivered by CleanCo Queensland and GHD, was recognised as one of only two Outstanding Nominees for Project of the Year (Queensland) at the Engineers Australia Excellence Awards 2025. While the project didn’t take home the top award, this recognition places it among the very best in Queensland, a testament to the strength of our regional footprint, our partnership with CleanCo from day one, and the technical excellence of our delivery team. Led by Nick Thomas-Kinsella, Dams Service Line Leader for APAC, the team brought together a powerful blend of local knowledge and national expertise.