SunWater proposes sale of Paradise Dam water before repairs are finalised

Lawyer Tom Marland is calling on the state government to remember its promises to farmers as SunWater proposes the sale of Paradise Dam water before repairs are even finalised.

​There has been ongoing discussion and controversy over the handling of the repairs of the damaged Paradise Dam.

Growers across the Burnett are expressing concerns over the Palaszczuk government’s plans to sell water from Paradise Dam before ongoing repairs are even completed.

Bundaberg Agribusiness lawyer Tom Marland said the worries arose after SunWater proposed the sale of Paradise Dam water during its improvement project.

“It is imperative that SunWater takes a cautious approach to future water sales from Paradise Dam” he said.

“To be planning water sales before the dam is fixed seems very premature.”

The proposed sale of water by SunWater would see changes to existing sale schemes, with nine months of planning outlined for any introduced changes.

Tom Marland, lawyer leading the Paradise Dam class action. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“Growers would much prefer to see SunWater take a conservative approach to how Paradise Dam is managed, to ensure that the region doesn’t find itself facing desperate water shortages again in the future,” he said.

The SunWater proposal outlines initial feedback to the prospect of sale has already included those opposed to the idea.

“No permanent water should be sold until the review of the Burnett Basin Water Plan is complete and PDIP is complete and the dam is returned to its original height,” the report read.

With reports rising the Queensland Government is already considering subsidising a pumped hydro scheme at Mount Rawdon near Mount Perry, Mr Marland said this was a bleak prospect for local farmers.

“The Mt Rawdon Pumped Hydro scheme is proposing to build a pipeline from Paradise Dam in order to access around 24,000ML of water,” he said.

Mr Marland is calling on the Palaszczuk Government to put farmers first. Photo Paul Beutel

“The unsold water in Paradise Dam should go to high-value agriculture, not industrial projects that require government subsidies.”

Mr Marland is calling on the Palaszczuk government to remember the promises given to growers when the dam was first built.

“Paradise Dam was built to bring water security to existing irrigators and to ensure the region’s strong agricultural potential could be realised,” he said.

A SunWater spokesperson said they are considering all the input provided to them in regards to the potential sale of water.

“We have held discussions with the Bundaberg Water Supply Scheme Irrigator Advisory Committee and Paradise Dam Reference Group, while also hosting customer information sessions and sharing communications across the scheme.

“Changing water-sharing rules to reintroduce volumes for sale needs to be carefully considered and Sunwater is listening to customers to understand water demand needs over the life of the Dam Improvement Project,” the spokesperson said.