Vegetation cleared at Mount Morgan Dam as Labor candidate for Flynn Matt Burnett calls for water funding

About three rugby fields worth of vegetation will be cleared from the Mount Morgan Dam as calls continue for a water security solution for the community.

An aerial image of Mt Morgan Dam.

About three rugby fields worth of vegetation will be cleared from the Mount Morgan Dam in anticipation of an influx of water.

Fitzroy River Water crews are carrying out works at the dam to reduce the amount of vegetation in the waterway by about 30,000 square metres.

Councillor for Water and Environmental Sustainability, Donna Kirkland, said the works were expected to wrap up by the end of the year.

“There is a lot of vegetation in the Mount Morgan Dam at the moment,” Cr Kirkland said.

“The main reason we need to remove it is that when the dam fills again it will create some issues if left untreated.

“Much of the vegetation is weeds and when these rot due to being submerged, it significantly reduces oxygen levels in the water.

“This of course can cause problems for the aquatic life and water quality so it’s really important to do this.

“The work is being done with the help of heavy machinery and is set to be completed in the next two to three weeks, weather permitting.”

The Dam remains below 10 per cent capacity.

Divisional Councillor Cherie Rutherford said it was great to see the works underway.

“The timing of these kinds of projects can be tricky to balance as they need to be carried out in times when the weeds won’t grow back too quickly but also before water levels rise too high and the weeds become submerged,” Cr Rutherford said.

“We also have a requirement to remove trees and saplings within five metres of the dam wall regularly in order to ensure tree roots are not near the structure, so part of the works currently underway include that ongoing maintenance.

“The recreational side of the Dam will remain open while works are being undertaken to ensure all can still enjoy the area over the school holidays.”

Labor’s candidate for Flynn Matt Burnett with Shadow Minister for the Environment and Water Terri Butler and Rockhampton Regional Council Mayor Tony Williams met with locals at Dam No. 7 in Mount Morgan.

The dam is currently below 10 per cent capacity and has faced ongoing issues from drought conditions.

Level 6 water restrictions commenced in Mount Morgan on March 15, 2021, after the No. 7 Dam fell below 10 per cent capacity.

Emergency water trucking began in March from Gracemere up to Mount Morgan, reaching 20 tankers a day providing 160 litres of water per person per day by April.

In later June, Rockhampton Regional Council announced it would invest $1 million toward securing a long-term water supply for the Mount Morgan community.

Shadow Minister for the Environment and Water Terri Butler, Labor’s candidate for Flynn Matt Burnett and Rockhampton Regional Council Mayor Tony Williams.

On Friday, Labor’s candidate for Flynn Matt Burnett met with Rockhampton region Mayor Tony Williams and Shadow Minister for the Environment and Water Terri Butler at the dam to address the ongoing issues.

Mr Burnett said it was a priority of his to meet with Mount Morgan locals on the ground to see the problem for himself and to bring Labor’s Shadow Water Minister there to meet the mayor.

“I’ve known Mayor Tony Williams for years and I’m grateful to him for proactively seeking solutions to secure the future of Mount Morgan’s water,” Mr Burnett said.

‘The Rockhampton Regional Council released their priorities for the Federal Government in Flynn, but we haven’t heard a word from the LNP Government.

“I’m proud of my track record of delivering local services and infrastructure in Gladstone, the people of Mount Morgan need a strong voice in Canberra that will actually listen to and fight for them.”

LNP candidate for Flynn Colin Boyce said he was meeting with Cr Williams this week to discuss the issue and queried why the State Government had not addressed it.

“With regard to the problems of the Mount Morgan water supply, I am aware of the issue. I have been trying to arrange a meeting with Rockhampton Mayor, Mr Tony Williams for the last four weeks to discuss this and other issues,” Mr Boyce said.

“I am meeting with him this week, in Rockhampton on Wednesday 22nd December.

What I would like to know is why has the State Labor Government not addressed this issue? Have Mayor Williams and Mayor Burnett (Labor candidate for Flynn) approached the Minister for Water, Glenn Butcher about this issue?

“After all they are political colleagues, and their offices are in close proximity to one another.

“Water supply, infrastructure, planning and management is the domain of the state government.

“Pending the outcome of my meeting with Mayor Williams, it is my belief that Mt Morgan’s water supply is a priority issue, and I will be doing everything I can to make sure there is a LNP federal funding commitment to this project, at the lead up to the next federal election.

“The Morrison Government has more than $3 billion dollars on the table for water infrastructure projects in Queensland.”