General News
3 June, 2026
Hidden gem’s birthday
THE city’s main water source is turning 50 this year
Copperlode Falls Dam will be marked as part of the Cairns Celebrates 150 Years program.
The anniversary is a chance to reflect on how this essential piece of infrastructure has supported Cairns’ growth over the past five decades, while also looking ahead to the city’s future water needs.
Commissioned in 1976 to provide water security for a growing community, Copperlode Falls Dam has played a vital role in shaping modern Cairns.
For the past five decades, the dam has supported the region’s health, liveability and economic prosperity, underpinning generations of residential growth, tourism and business development.
As Cairns marks 150 years since its official founding in 1876, council is building on that legacy through the Cairns Water Security Stage 1 (CWSS1) project.
As the largest infrastructure project ever undertaken by council, CWSS1 is a critical investment in the city’s future, delivering a new drinking water supply, strengthening network resilience and supporting a growing population.
Cairns Mayor Amy Eden said the 50th anniversary of Copperlode Falls Dam was a chance to celebrate a vital piece of infrastructure that had helped shape modern Cairns.
“Copperlode Falls Dam has served Cairns for 50 years and stands as one of the great enabling pieces of infrastructure in our city’s history,” Cr Eden said.
“For generations, it has supported our residents, our economy and our way of life, and this milestone gives us the opportunity to reflect on the foresight of those who planned and built it – and to thank those who have operated and maintained it ever since,” she said.
“As we celebrate 150 years of Cairns, it’s also a reminder that our city continues to grow and that we need to keep investing in the infrastructure that supports our future.
“Just as Copperlode helped secure Cairns 50 years ago, Cairns Water Security Stage 1 is helping secure the future of our community today.”
By the numbers:
38,475 megalitres of storage
Around 15,000 Olympic swimming pools
45 metres high
A zoned earth and rock fill dam
Forming what we now know as Lake Morris.
