LNP’s plan to build a new dam in SEQ, part of three major water projects

David Crisafulli says the LNP wants to “put a flag in the ground” declaring the Opposition wants Queensland to get back to an era “when we were proud to build dams in this state”.

David Crisafulli plans to build a dam in the southeast if elected. Picture: File

A dam is on the cards for southeast Queensland under an LNP water plan that has categorically ruled out building new desalination plants or recycled water schemes.

But Queenslanders won’t know where a new dam could be built or how much it could cost until the region’s water plan—along with 22 others across the state—are reviewed in the first term of an LNP government.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli and Opposition water spokeswoman Deb Frecklington launched the LNP’s water security plan in Longreach, against the backdrop of the mighty Thomson River, on Saturday.

Mr Crisafulli said the LNP was “putting a flag in the ground” to declare the Opposition wanted Queensland to get back to an era “when we were proud to build dams in this state”.

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The latest SEQ water plan, released by the government in 2023, warned the region needed a new drinking water source by 2035 amid a population boom.

And with the LNP ruling out new desalination plants or recycled water schemes, Mr Crisafulli confirmed a new dam in the southeast was on the cards.

Opposition energy spokeswoman and Nanango MP Deb Frecklington, Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli, and LNP candidate for Gregory Sean Dillon, on the campaign trail in Longreach. Picture: Liam Kidston.

This is despite Seqwater, in the 2023 plan, warning changing rainfall patters due to climate change meant less reliable supply from existing dams in the future.

“We are talking about a long-term water security plan for this state to deliver immediate opportunities for agriculture and for people in some of those regional communities, and a long term plan to use the capacity that’s in the system and build water security,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“And I believe that’s the best thing, not only by the environment, I think it’s the best thing financially as well.

“I do not believe the option of desalination or recycled water is anywhere as efficient, as acceptable, or as visionary as building dams.”

The state government’s plan, outlined last year, was to forge ahead with a desalination plant in the southeast—the cost and location of which will be dependent on a detailed business case due by the end of 2024.

The Queensland Conservation Council denounced the LNP’s dam proposal as an “impractical expensive idea that will fail to deliver water security” while impacting the health of rivers and waterways.

“A proposal for a new dam in southeast Queensland appears to be a poorly thought out re-heat of a previously failed policy. We don’t need Traveston Dam 2.0. It’s a recipe for environmental harm and community division,” QCC director Dave Copeman said.

But Mr Crisafulli said dams were the best long-term asset.

“They provide generational infrastructure,” he said.

“They act as flood mitigation… the long-term benefit of flood mitigation is what it does to insurance premiums, what it does for the ability to lower cost of repairs after a flood.”

The LNP’s water security plan includes a promise to review all 23 regional water plans by October 2028.

It has promised to “urgently embark” on a review of water sources for southeast Queensland.

Three shovel-ready major water projects would also be built at a total cost of $126m.

This includes a $90m 10,000ML weir on the Boyne River south of Mundubbera, the 3000ML Barlil Weir on Barambah Creek northwest of Murgon for $28m, and $7m for five new or upgraded weirs along the Thomson River in Longreach.

Enoggera Dam is one of Eight Dams operated by SEQ Water. Picture David Clark

Seqwater, in its latest water security blueprint released in 2023, noted the region had enough spare supply to manage through dry periods under current levels of demand.

But the report also called for “vigilance” to ensure SEQ was “well prepared for future change including population growth, as well as threats to water supply arising from prolonged drought events or climate change”.

“Climate change research suggests SEQ will see an increase in the annual average temperatures and levels of evaporation, as well as potential impacts to the volumes of inflows into dams,” the report stated.

“This means that climate change may materially reduce the volume of water that is available from the system of existing bulk water sources.

“It is therefore prudent to start planning now for a new major enhancement, particularly given climate change might mean SEQ is not able to rely on dams as much in the future.”

Southeast Queensland currently has one desalination plant on the Gold Coast.

The Western Corridor recycled water scheme, which has its two ends in the Somerset region and Brisbane, supplies purified water to industrial customers to make electricity.

But it is also activated for drinking water supply when the SEQ water grid storage levels drop below 40 per cent as a result of severe drought.

Purified recycled water is used for drinking supply across the world, including Singapore, Belgium, and parts of the United States including California.