State Government stands by assessment for Big Rocks Weir

The State Government has defended its requirement for pre-construction work into the Big Rocks Weir near Charters Towers as stakeholders try to get the $60m project up and running.

Kennedy MP Bob Katter at the site of the proposed Big Rocks Weir on Burdekin River north of Charters Towers. Picture: MORGAN OSS

THE state government has defended its requirement for pre-construction work into the Big Rocks Weir near Charters Towers as stakeholders try to get the $60m project up and running.

Sources say the government is drowning the project in paperwork but Charters Towers Regional Council Mayor Frank Beveridge, whose council will develop the scheme, says he is encouraged by state Water Minister Glenn Butcher, who “seems like a practical person”.

Meanwhile, the federal Department of Environment is yet to advise on the assessment approach needed – such as an environmental-impact statement – but has said it requires assessment under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity and Conservation Act.

Federal MP Bob Katter secured $234m in federal funding for Big Rocks, Hells Gate Dam studies and the Hughenden Irrigation Project in 2018 in return for his support of the Coalition in the House of Representatives.

He said on Sunday $15m had already been “burnt up” in reports and the state was requiring further assessment.

If they couldn’t figure out where to put a weir, they should get out of the way, he said.

“I got the money and the money is being chewed up,” Mr Katter said.

The site of the proposed Big Rocks Weir on the Burdekin River, north of Charters Towers.

“You can’t get anything through the parliament, they’ve so encumbered themselves with requirements they are incapable of making a decision.”

Ahead of the state election last year, Labor announced $3m to fund pre-construction activities and committed a further $27m towards the construction of Big Rocks Weir.

Mr Butcher said on Sunday building dams and weirs was “not a matter of slapping a few besser blocks on top of each other”.

“Detailed pre-construction works must be done so that the project can be properly assessed and I’ve made it very clear that we will not cut corners on these important activities,” Mr Butcher said.

Pre-construction activities included detailed design and construction costings, defining the available water, assessing water pricing and funding requirements, and environmental impact assessment.

Cr Beveridge said, ideally, the council would like to get all the paperwork and geotechnical drilling done this year to begin construction next year but that it was yet to get the “finer details” on the assessment required.

Originally published as State Government stands by assessment for Big Rocks Weir