 In 1935 he found a site at Copperlode falls, near the headwaters of Freshwater Creek, that he thought would be suitable.Many years later, after a series of surveys confirmed the site's suitability, the Queensland Government approved the site for construction of an earth and rock fill dam.The State Government originally set aside A$3 million for the dam, but by the time the dam was completed on 25 March 1976, the total cost had risen to approximately $6.5 million.