Bundaberg MP calls for Paradise Dam apology met, welcomed

Bundaberg Labor MP Tom Smith has urged the Bundaberg community to look to the future, rather than dwell on the mistakes of the past that had impacted the agriculture industry.

Bundaberg Labor MP Tom Smith and Water Minister Glenn Butcher with a sample of concrete taken from the Paradise Dam spillway in 2021.

Bundaberg Labor MP Tom Smith has welcomed an apology from former Qld Labor premier Peter Beattie over the Paradise Dam debacle.

On Thursday, January 11, Water Minister Glenn Butcher held a press event in Bundaberg with SunWater CEO Glenn Stockton to announce work on the damaged dam would be halted, with plans now to build a new wall 70m downstream.

“I’m not in the position for apportioning blame, our focus is to deliver the right asset to the region,” Mr Stockton said.

“There was a commission of inquiry conducted into Paradise Dam in 2019, that outcome did not apportion blame.”

Mr Smith said the government had “inherited” the dam from Mr Beattie.

Former Queensland Premier Peter Beattie apologised for his role in the ongoing Paradise Dam debacle.

“I think that Peter Beattie owes a personal apology to the people of Bundaberg and I would welcome that apology,” he said on Thursday.

On Friday morning, Mr Beattie issued that apology, but questioned why the state had taken so long to decide to rebuild the wall.

“On behalf of my government I accept full political responsibility for building the dam and looking after Queensland farmers,” he said.

“For the life of me I can’t understand why it has taken so long to determine that this dam needed to be replaced.

“If the problems were identified years ago, why has there been such a delay?”

Mr Smith welcomed the apology and said Mr Beattie demonstrated himself to be an “individual of great integrity”.

SunWater assured growers that water allocations will not decrease as the Paradise Dam capacity reduces through rebuild project.

“Peter and his government delivered a lot for Bundaberg and the whole of the Wide Bay region during an important time in Queensland’s history,” he said.

“The Beattie government has a proud legacy and was the first Labor government that inspired me to join the cause of the great Labor and Trade Labour movements.”

However, Mr Smith said the community needed to look to the future, and move on from the mistakes that had impacted the local agriculture sector.

“As a whole, we must now turn towards the future,” he said.

“A future of a strong agricultural and horticultural industry for our region that will enable further growth within our local manufacturing sector.”