Poona Dam
Location of the Poona Dam in Queensland
Country	Australia
Location	South East Queensland
Coordinates	26°35′46″S 152°54′36″E / 26.59611°S 152.91000°E / -26.59611; 152.91000
Purpose	Potable water storage[1]
Status	Operational
Opening date	1959 (1959) 1998 (1998) (spillway upgraded)
Operator(s)	SEQ Water
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Embankment dam
Impounds	Tributary of South Maroochy River
Length	650 m (2,130 ft)[1]
Spillway type	Uncontrolled
Reservoir
Total capacity	655 ML (144×10^6 imp gal; 173×10^6 US gal)[1]
Catchment area	0.8 km2 (0.31 sq mi)[1]
Surface area	17 ha (42 acres)
Maximum width	410 m (1,350 ft)
Website www.seqwater.com.au

The Poona Dam is an earth-fill embankment dam with a toe drain with an un-gated spillway across a tributary of the South Maroochy River in Kureelpa, Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia.^[2] The main purpose of the dam is for storage of potable water for the Sunshine Coast region.^[1] The impounded reservoir is also called Poona Dam.

Location and features

The dam is located 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) north-west of Nambour.

The earthen dam structure is 650 metres (2,130 ft) long and holds back the 655-megalitre (144×10^⁶ imp gal; 173×10^⁶ US gal) reservoir when at full capacity. From a catchment area of 0.8 square kilometres (0.31 sq mi), the reservoir has a surface area of 17 hectares (42 acres) and a maximum width of 410 m (1,350 ft). Initially managed by the Maroochy Shire Council, management of the dam was transferred to SEQ Water in July 2008 as part of a water security project in the South East Queensland region, known as the South East Queensland Water Grid.^[3]

Recreation

Recreation is not permitted on the dam and in its surrounds.^[1]

History

In 2008, the body of a deceased man was found on the eastern spillway of the dam wall.^[4][5]