Cairns water security: Curtis Pitt, Michael Healy, Craig Crawford support regional council plan

The next month of lobbying and pushing the case for Cairns’ $215m water security project is going to be crucial as the region’s State MPs reinforce their support.

CAIRNS’ water security crisis looks set to be averted with Far North state MPs reinforcing their support of a $215m project less than a week after their Labor counterparts claimed victory in the federal election.

The ALP backed Cairns Regional Council’s plan with a $107.5m nod during the campaign with it being the only major Far North project to receive a special mention in Labor’s national election pledge costings.

In a united front state members Curtis Pitt, Micheal Healy and Craig Crawford have backed the project holding meetings this week in Brisbane including with the Minister for Water Glenn Butcher who told the Cairns Post in March support would be given if the proposal “stacks up”.

State MP for Cairns Michael Healy says he will press the case for State funding, for Cairns’ water security project. Picture: Bronwyn Farr.

All eyes now will be on next month’s state budget to see if their $107.5m is there to complete the deal, as ministers and MPs prepare to descend on the Far North on Monday as part of a new round of regional community forums.

Member for Cairns Michael Healy said while the primary responsibility for the delivery of drinking water was with the Cairns Regional Council, they were supportive of their strategy.

“We will continue to press our case with Treasurer Cameron Dick ahead of next month’s state budget,” Mr Healy said.

The $215m proposal consists of collecting water from the Mulgrave River at Gordonvale, running it through a new treatment plant at Draper Rd and pumping it across the region.

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With the threat of running out of water by 2027, council sought the Cairns Post’s help to lobby state and federal support in the hope of starting construction by 2024 and avoiding a major financial impost on ratepayers.

Cairns Mayor Bob Manning has long argued there was no reason the project shouldn’t receive state and federal funding in light of them pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into Townsville and Wide Bay Burnett water projects.

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Barron River MP Craig Crawford acknowledged water security didn’t stop at shire boundaries.

“We’re acutely aware of the challenges faced with climate change and the ability to harvest life-giving natural resources,” Mr Crawford said.

“The Mulgrave River proposal is very logical and makes a lot of sense for the future fresh water supply for the entire city of Cairns.”

Mulgrave MP Curtis Pitt said they had been working with the council to ensure it met community demand, stacked up financially and was in accordance with Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.

An affordable water supply helping ease cost-of-living demands and the creation of jobs were major benefits of the project, Mr Healy said.

Originally published as Cairns water security: Curtis Pitt, Michael Healy, Craig Crawford support regional council plan