A NEW dam is not off the radar for the North West, despite a specific site not being named for the region in the federal government’s Northern White Paper.
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Cloncurry Mayor Andrew Daniels was angered when the Cave Hill Dam project was left off the white paper and not listed as part of a $200 million Water Infrastructure Development Fund.
“The reality is we need water to support growth and development,” Cr Daniels said.
Cr Daniels said he would continue to push for construction of Cave Hill Dam despite fears it had fallen off the government’s radar.
Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter also slammed the Water Infrastructure Development Fund and said the money would be better spent on getting the process under way immediately to build new dams.
The chair of the White Paper Implementation Oversight Committee, northern-based Senator Ian Macdonald, agreed development in the region would be stifled without a secure water supply.
“One of the sites favoured by Andrew Daniels is, I understand, on the Cloncurry River and a guesstimate of cost might be in the order of $75 million,” he said.
“The white paper does not specifically commit to any dam but does provide for the Water Infrastructure Development Fund which will enable serious pre-feasibility work in the 30 surface water catchments in the north that have been identified as having further potential but that lack the foundational science and data on water and agricultural resources that a water resources assessment will provide.”
The white paper’s $5 billion loan facility set up to promote infrastructure investment will also be of benefit to exploring new dam sites, Senator Macdonald said.
“The infrastructure package may assist in parts of the construction of any new dam but certainly the $5 billion infrastructure concessional loans initiative could be accessed to allow private, state or local government developers to construct needed dams that have a positive cost benefit profile (that is, there are available users prepared to pay fairly).”
“If there is a real proposal then we should have a look at it – and that’s what the implementation oversight committee, which I chair, will be wanting to help with.”
He said lobby group Mount Isa to Townsville Economic Zone had about $50,000 for a review of preferable dam sites.
Senator Macdonald said providing funding for feasibility and scoping studies for projects of merit across the whole of northern Australia was the best way to get the widest range of projects “shovel-ready”.
“Developing northern Australia is all about attracting investment to create growth, jobs and prosperity for the north and for all Australians,” he said.
“And in the 2015-16 budget we announced $5 billion in concessional loans to help governments and corporations to achieve their business cases for investing in major projects in the north.
“But what we have done is acknowledge that water infrastructure projects have unique local attributes that need to be investigated.
“Clearly comments by the Member for Kennedy (Bob Katter) criticising the white paper without bothering to read it are just plain wrong.
“Had Mr Katter bothered to read the white paper he would have seen that the $200 million Water Infrastructure Development Fund will help to bring the greatest possible number of feasible projects to a point where they are ready for serious investor consideration.”
The soon-to-be-released Agricultural White Paper will provide further clarity and direction on the development of key water infrastructure projects across the nation.
“Literally billions of dollars-worth of new and innovative projects are coming to the north and the communities of northern and western Queensland – such as those in the electorate of Kennedy – are in prime position to reap the benefits of this northern Australian investment and growth renaissance,” Senator Macdonald said.
“I hope that everyone in the region shares and is keen to participate in the Coalition government’s positive and growth-focused vision for the north.”
