Greater Whitsunday Council of Mayors hold meeting on Urannah project

The company behind a $2.9bn project could transform agriculture and industry across Central Queensland has met with the region’s mayors for a post-election update. Here’s what happened.

The mayors of Mackay, Isaac and the Whitsundays have reiterated their support for the massive $2.9bn Urannah project that would implant new agriculture and feed power into Bowen Basin miners for years to come.

Bowen River Utilities is leading the charge for the build and CEO James Benjamin said his company had received “overwhelming support” in a post-election meeting with the Greater Whitsunday Council of Mayors.

“The mayors shared with me the fact that the Urannah project will give locals the much-needed combination of confidence and relief,” he said.

“Relief that residents will have a choice to stay and raise their families and confidence that there’s the opportunity to receive a good income.”

Urannah Dam will be located on the Broken River 80km west of Mackay. Picture: Contributed

The project is divided into three components: a 940-gigalitre dam on the Broken River 80km west of Mackay, an irrigation scheme to implant a new farming precinct around Collinsville and a pumped-hydro scheme.

Analysts from BDO and Victoria University calculate the project could deliver 2500 jobs in construction and 5000 flow on jobs across the Mackay, Isaac and the Whitsundays with a cumulative region-wide impact of $4.1bn.

State-wide, the analysis shows about 6300 construction jobs and more than 6500 flow-on jobs over 30 years.

“The economic beneficiaries in terms of short-term gain are heavy and civil engineering, agriculture, electrical and construction operators as well as retail and wholesale traders,” Mr Benjamin said.

“Some of the long-term beneficiaries are fruit and nut producers, electricity generators and suppliers as well as the coal mining sector.”

The cost of the dam component is pegged at $966m and the former Coalition government committed $483m to the build in the pre-election March budget.

Isaac Mayor Anne Baker (left) is the current chair of the Greater Whitsunday Council of Mayors, led by the mayors of the Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday LGAs. Mayor Baker met with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the Jobs and Skills Summit in Canberra on September 1. Picture: Contributed

Speaking in June, Mr Benjamin expressed confidence the money would hold despite the change in government.

“I am reassured by (Prime Minister) Anthony Albanese’s comments around the need to actually invest in infrastructure, improve productivity, around water is needed for the regions, so I am reassured by what I have heard out of the federal government, and we have obviously had a number of engagements with different members of parliament,” he said, adding his company had met with Labor members before and after the election.

GWCoM chair Anne Baker, the mayor of Isaac council, said water security for regional Queensland was “paramount”.

“We hope that all stakeholders in this project work with First Nations people and the community as part of the ongoing works,” she said.

The Mackay Isaac Whitsunday Regional Water Strategy released by the Greater Whitsunday Alliance also elevates Urannah as a key project for the region.

“The Urannah Water Scheme is a regional solution capable of meeting multiple service needs concurrently,” the report states.

Bowen River released its draft EIS to the state government in June.

Originally published as Greater Whitsunday Council of Mayors hold meeting on Urannah project