Farmers invite council to work together to make Stanwell and Gladstone pay barrage use
Fitzroy River irrigators reeling from a 53 per cent water price rise walked away from a meeting with Rockhampton Region councillors and officers hopeful they had forged a pathway towards better outcomes for all parties.
Rockhampton
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Fitzroy River irrigators reeling from a 53 per cent water price rise walked away from a meeting with Rockhampton Region councillors and officers hopeful they had forged a pathway towards better outcomes for all parties.
Macadamia farmer Henrik Christiansen said about 70 people attended the event on Wednesday, December 11 at the Alton Downs Hall, which he described as “productive, cordial and well received”.
Dozens of concerned irrigators had called the meeting to ensure their concerns about the price rise to be introduced in July 2025 were clearly communicated and that councillors and officers were “fully equipped” with the right information during proposed consultation meetings early next year.
Councillors Grant Mathers, Elliot Hilse, Edward Oram, Cherie Rutherford and Marika Taylor with three Fitzroy River Water officers were at the meeting as were Federal Senator Matt Canavan and a representative for new Rockhampton MP Donna Kirkland.
One of the key questions was why big water users Stanwell Power Station and the Gladstone Area Water Board (GAWB) were not paying for using the Fitzroy River Barrage storage infrastructure to pump from.
The $15m cost of maintaining the $40m (current valuation) barrage over the next five years is one of the main contributors behind the price rise.
“We gave (a long list) of questions to council and we want them to work on answers and come back to us in February,” Mr Christiansen said.
“There were a lot of complicated questions that they weren’t able to answer on the night.
“There’s two things going on with the cost and methodology and we weren’t really expecting the details last night but they have committed to coming back to us.”
He said irrigators had also reached out to council with an invitation to work together on a plan to get Stanwell and GAWB to pay a contribution.
“It sounds like council has been hitting their head against the wall on this issue themselves but been blocked by the State Government along those lines,” Mr Christiansen said.
“I think this is an opportunity for Rockhampton and irrigators to work with the State on this matter.”
He said councillors stayed back after the meeting finished to talk further to irrigators about issues and that extra time was appreciated.
Water Councillor Oram said Councillors and Council officers met with local irrigators this week to listen directly to the feedback and concerns about the proposed changes to the Fitzroy River Water Barrage Supply Scheme.
“Council is currently reviewing the feedback gathered from the meeting and a response addressing questions raised at the meeting will be provided early in the New Year during further consultation,” he said.
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