#GoQld: Water infrastructure needed to fuel agricultural boom

QUEENSLAND’S farming industry is on the brink of a boom that could reap up to $30 billion a year. But one vital ingredient is needed.

JUST add water, and watch Queensland’s agricultural sector boom. Fifteen projects are vying for a share of half a billion dollars’ worth of water infrastructure funding to open up huge new swaths of farmland.

AgForce president Grant Maudsley says the state’s farming industry is on the brink of a boom¸ driven by rising demand for our high-quality produce, that could increase production from $17 billion a year to $30 billion within 20 years and create tens of thousands of new jobs.

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“We have a sector that is willing to invest capital, but we need access to markets, water, roads, rail and port infrastructure, and good communications.’’

The Federal Government will next week allocate $50 million for feasibility studies into dam and irrigation projects.

Those deemed most viable will then be considered for a share of the $450 million National Water Infrastructure Development Fund in 2017-18 towards construction in partnership with state governments and private enterprise.

Daniella Fouche, 19, of Emerald, enjoys Lake Maraboon. Pic: Jack Tran

The CSIRO has identified 540,000ha in Queensland that could be transformed for crops and horticultural production.

“That’s massive,’’ Minister for Northern Australia and Queensland senator Matt Canavan said.

“The total amount of irrigated land in Australia currently is 2 million hectares, so that’s a huge increase. And it’s something we can certainly achieve in the next 20 years.”

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Retired LNP state MP Vaughan Johnson, who represented the Central Highlands area for more than two decades, says Fairbairn Dam at Emerald is proof of the economic miracle that such projects can bring.

Completed in 1972, the dam, which created Lake Maraboon, was not slated to provide water for mines – which it does – but to irrigate crops. Cotton, citrus, grapes, peanuts, macadamia and oil seed industries all sprang up.

AgForce says there is keen interest from investors in backing ventures amid burgeoning demand, particularly from Asian markets. But road and rail infrastructure problems are a big challenge.

In the mix for funding

■ Hell’s Gate Dam, near Townsville. Could support agribusiness worth $2 billion

■ Lakeland Irrigation Area, Cooktown. Could increase banana production by 50%

■ Urannah Dam, near Proserpine. Could open up 10,000ha of agricultural land

■ Three Rivers Irrigation Project. To irrigate 15,000ha for cotton south of Normanton

■ Rookwood Weir, near Rockhampton. A $260 million proposal

■ Nathan Dam. An 888,000-megalitre dam on the Dawson River