IN 2013 Mount Isa came together to celebrate the 90-year anniversary since John Campbell Miles made his landmark discovery of lead ore in the region and the subsequent formation of our city.
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Across the years, Mount Isa has weathered many challenges in accessing adequate infrastructure including a sustainable water supply.
The city has expanded and improved its water supply with the construction of three dams with the capacity to service the needs of the community, mining and industry.
Mount Isa Mayor Tony McGrady says effective water management is critical to the viability of local business and the future of the community.
``Over the past 90 years the community has made great strides in securing long-term sustainable water options for the city and mining activity,'' Cr McGrady said.
``While Lake Moondarra is our primary water resource, Lake Julius provides us with additional security in times of drought and Rifle Creek Dam supplements some of the water requirements of our local energy industry.
``Despite the recent rainfall which has topped up these dams to some extent, our region does remain in drought and it is important that we continue to respect these water sources, conserving as much water where we can in the home and at work.''
As of yesterday, Lake Moondarra was at 34.19 per cent and Lake Julius was 84.79.
Rifle Creek held 35.5 per cent on Wednesday.
RIFLE CREEK DAM
RIFLE Creek Dam was Mount Isa's first dam and was constructed by Mount Isa Mines in 1929 to service the growing community and mining activities in the area.
Rifle Creek Dam is located 28 kilometres south of Mount Isa and has a capacity of 9500 megalitres.
Today, Rifle Creek Dam services the needs of Mica Creek Power Station and Diamantina Power Station.
LAKE MOONDARRA
AFTER Mount Isa's population boom after World War II and an increase in the demand for infrastructure and essential services in the town, Lake Moondarra was constructed in 1958.
At the time, questioning the permanency of the new mining town, the Queensland government was reluctant to invest state funds when the community petitioned for vital infrastructure including a new water resource.
Fortunately, Mount Isa Mines secured an excellent water supply, located 20 kilometres north of Mount Isa, for the growing community by damming the Leichhardt with construction completed by 1958 at a cost of $1.7 million.
Originally referred to as the Leichhardt River Dam, it was officially named Lake Moondarra in 1961, with the Aboriginal name meaning ``plenty of rain also thunder'', after a competition was held.
In 1971, the primary spillway was raised by the addition of a reinforced concrete weir along the crest increasing the dam's supply volume.
With a total capacity of 103,000 megalitres, it was the largest water scheme in Australia to be financed by private enterprise.
Today, Lake Moondarra continues to provide the main potable water supply for Mount Isa and surrounding industries.
Due to its large surface area, Lake Moondarra suffers from a very high rate of evaporation, with thousands of litres of water lost each year.
LAKE JULIUS
THE need for another new dam became apparent by the end of 1969 when the water consumption of Mount Isa was approaching the assured yield of Lake Moondarra.
During the 1970s, Mount Isa once again experienced a population boom with numbers growing from 8000 in 1950s to 25,000 by the mid 1970s, adding further pressure to the existing water sources.
In late 1969, Mount Isa Mines Limited commissioned the initial investigations for an additional water source and, by 1976, Lake Julius and the associated supply system was constructed.
The project was completed in partnership between the mining company and the Queensland government, to the cost of $33 million.
An order of the council in 1973 resulted in the formation of the Mount Isa Water Board as the constructing authority for the system supplying water to Mount Isa.
Constructed on the junction of the Leichhardt River and Paroo Creek 71 kilometres north-east of Mount Isa, the new dam was designed to supplement the water storage provided by Lake Moondarra for mining operations and the community.
It has a storage capacity of 107,500 megalitres and a surface area of 1255 hectares.