‘Flaming think about it’: Fears for funding of two major Qld dams

A planned $1bn regional ring road that Prime Minister Albanese labelled a “certainty” when in opposition in 2019 has been delayed, possibly jeopardising two major dam projects.

Major dam projects in central Queensland could be next on the chopping block, Nationals MPs fear, after the $1bn Rockhampton Ring Rd was delayed just months before it was expected to start construction.

It is despite a windfall of almost $50bn helping the budget bottom line coming out of booming commodities prices.

The ring road, which has already been out to tender and had a cost blowout of almost $800m, was revealed on Monday to be delayed with no new start date set – even though Prime Minister Albanese called the project a “certainty” when in opposition in January 2019.

Rockhampton Ring Rd design. The project has been delayed. Picture: Supplied

Nationals MPs and senators, including Michelle Landry, Colin Boyce and Matt Canavan, said they feared the Urannah Dam and Paradise Dam projects funded in the March budget were now in doubt.

Water Minister Tanya Plibersek confirmed she was considering all dam announcements made by the former government, noting they were not the only option for water security.

A spokeswoman for Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said the cost blowout and “constraints on the number of construction workers and the supply of materials” forced the ring road to be put off.

Capricornia MP Michelle Landry said local businesses had already spent thousands of dollars in getting contracts ready for the ring road construction before the government delayed the funding at the last minute.

“They need to have a good flaming think about it, because I tell you, I am totally outraged,” she said.

Ms Landry said she was concerned the Urannah dam, which received $483m at the March budget, and Paradise Dam, which received about $600m, were also at risk.

Of the $6.9bn in new water projects across the country promised by the then-Morrison government in March, about $1bn was allocated in the next four years.

Capricornia MP Michelle Landry.

Ms Plibersek said the federal government was committed to improving water security, particularly for residents in the regions.

“We also need to plan for the impacts of climate change, given the increasing demand for this limited resource,” she said.

“There is no doubt that new dams will be part of that picture – but they are not the only option.”

The spokeswoman for Ms King said the Rockhampton Ring Rd was unable to be delivered in time, pointing to the cost blowout, but denied there was a delay.

“The funding is not being delayed, it is moving to when the project can really be delivered,” she said.

“In this economic climate, with rising inflation and constraints on the number of construction workers and the supply of materials, both the Australian and Queensland governments agree it is not possible to build the Ring Rd in the proposed timeframe.”