Queensland Labor’s inaction putting national water ­infrastructure funds at risk, Joyce warns

THE Queensland Government has been warned that its inaction on key water infrastructure could put its slice of a $2.5 billion Federal Government funding package at risk.

The proposed site for the Hell’s Gate Dam on the upper Burdekin River, a potential game-changer for Townsville and Charters Towers.

INACTION by the State Government could risk Queensland losing its slice of a $2.5 billion national water ­infrastructure package.

The program, designed to fast-track new dams and irrigation systems, has identified 14 major water projects vital to Queensland.

PIPELINE: Queensland’s white elephant infrastructure

Acting Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said the Turnbull Government had spent $20 million funding feasibility studies for the 14 water projects to fast-track them to a shovel-ready stage.

But Mr Joyce, the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, said the Palaszczuk Government had not provided a project schedule for water infrastructure.

None of the projects feature in the forward estimates of State Government Budget papers.

Mr Joyce said if the projects were not ready to go when capital funding became available in July next year, Queensland risked losing out to other states.

“This really concerns me and it concerns industry and jobseekers all over Queensland. So we need to get a wriggle along,” Mr Joyce said.

The studies include $2 million for the Rookwood Weir, which has the potential to provide water security to Rockhampton and Gladstone; $3.9 million for the Emu Swamp Dam, near Stanthorpe; and $2.2 million for the Hell’s Gate Dam on the upper Burdekin River, a potential game-changer for Townsville and Charters Towers.

Acting Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce says the Government has spent $20 million funding feasibility studies for 14 water projects. Picture: AAP

The Turnbull Government already has committed $130 million to the construction of Rookwood Weir, which could boost agricultural production in the Lower Fitzroy by $1 billion a year and create 2100 jobs.

Experts believe Queensland is the state best positioned to take advantage of new dams and water infrastructure, with the potential to add billions to the state economy.

Minister for Water Supply Mark Bailey said the point of feasibility studies was to see if the projects “stack up economically and environmentally”, but claimed no money had been paid directly to the 14 successful proponents.

“In fact, I understand proponents are concerned that the Federal Government will not provide the feasibility funding upfront,” Mr Bailey said.

“Mr Joyce should stop pointing fingers and stump up the money for his own program.”

Mr Joyce said the Palaszczuk Government needed to “get things moving”.

“We have an alignment of political forces that gives us a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do what people in the streets of Brisbane, Cairns, Townsville, Rocky, Gladstone want us to do: they want us to build dams,” Mr Joyce said.