However, the rapid population growth during the 1950s and early 1960s, meant the amount of treated water supplied from Yaamba was becoming insufficient, prompting the concept of the Fitzroy River Barrage to be revisited.

After the site at Splitter's Creek was chosen, the first pile to initiate works on the Fitzroy River Barrage was driven in by Minister for Development Alex Dewar on 7 November 1966.

[4] 17-year-old Anthony Boyd Cook and 15-year-old Timothy Wickham were killed on 4 September 1968 while they were exploring the site with another boy, Stephen Ward, in a wooden rowboat.

[5] Cook and Wickham were swept away when the boat capsized in the wash from the spillway while Ward managed to climb into a gate recess on the barrage.

[5][6] The barrage was completed in 1970 and was formally commissioned by Queensland premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen at a community celebration held at the site on 19 March 1970.

[7][8] At the opening, Bjelke-Petesen paid tribute to Pilbeam's "persistence, determination and enterprise" in seeing the Fitzroy River Barrage finally become a reality.

[8] Pilbeam praised Rockhampton City Council engineer Arnold Philp for directing the project so successfully and overcoming unique problems.

[9] The construction of the barrage had a significant impact on native fish species as it prevented them from accessing breeding, spawning and nursery habitats.

[22] In 2019, it was reported Rockhampton Regional Council were preparing to hold celebrations in 2020 to mark the 50th anniversary since the official opening of the Fitzroy River Barrage but the COVID-19 pandemic prevented this from going ahead.