Farmers say problems at Paradise Dam not properly diagnosed

Farmers near the controversial Paradise Dam are suing the State Government, saying their future livelihoods have been put at risk by what has been described as the ‘biggest infrastructure failure in Australian history’.

BUNDABERG farmers are suing the State Government over the Paradise Dam debacle even as workers prepare to lower the level of the dam which underwrote a massive agriculture boom in the rich red volcanic soils which are a signature of the district.

Bundaberg farmer Andrew Lewis who grows macadamia nuts in the region sums up the frustration of hundreds of growers whose livelihood depends on the dam 80km south west south west of Bundaberg.

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“I bought this property in 2013 because of the combination of water security and climate,’’ he said. “What has happened with the dam puts the futures of hundreds of growers in this region on the line.’’

Built between 2003 and 2005 under a Labor Government, Paradise Dam was found to have serious structural problems in a state government inquiry earlier this year and has been described by Federal LPN Senator James McGrath as “the biggest infrastructure failure in Australian history.’’

Farmers are calling for more investigation into how to fix the problems at Paradise Dam, near Bundaberg.

The dam wall is set to be lowered because of concerns about the dam’s structural integrity meaning the dam’s capacity will be severely reduced.

Mr Lewis said while the State Government inquiry found key problems with the dam, the nature of those problems has not been properly diagnosed.

The bid to lower the dam wall may be premature, he said.

“There is no denying the dam is in a distressed state and requires remediation,’’ he said.

“But what we are saying is that further testing should take place – testing that meets international testing standards – so we can get more definitive evidence about what the problems are.’’

Mr Lewis said the terms of reference of the State Government inquiry did not include any real remediation of Paradise Dam.

“All the inquiry tells us is how we should be building future dams,” Mr Lewis said.

Lawyer Tom Marland, principal at Marland Law in Bundaberg which is handling the case, said several growers had banded together to fund a judicial review of the decision to lower the dam wall as well as seek an injunction to stop work on the lowering.

Mr Marland said the Paradise Dam was a pivotal piece of infrastructure for Bundaberg’s agriculture sector, estimated to contribute up to $1bn annually to state GDP.