‘Stuck between a rock and a hard place’: CTRC steps back from Big Rocks Weir

Charters Towers Regional Council has handed over ownership of the $90m Big Rocks Weir project, citing endless ‘roadblocks’ as the cause - and a desire to save ratepayers’ money.

Aerial view of the proposed location to build Big Rocks Weir. Picture: National Water Grid Fund.

The current situation of the much-promised Big Rocks Weir project has been described as being “stuck between a rock and a hard place”.

Charters Towers Regional Council mayor Liz Schmidt announced on Wednesday, July 17, her council has made the decision to hand ownership of the $90m water project to the state government because they “simply can’t move forward” in the current state.

“Every time we try to move forward, something else is thrown at us. So we think it’s time to hand it to the people making the rules,” Cr Schmidt said.

The largest of these current roadblocks is environment impact assessments, which have locked the project into a recent limbo.

But Cr Schmidt was adamant her council is not abandoning the weir and will continue driving it towards construction.

Former Charters Towers Mayor Liz Schmidt is throwing her hat in the ring for the Local Government Election 2024.

“We are still on the steering committee, we will still keep pushing this forward,” she said.

“Frank’s (Beveridge) council tried really hard to do all they possibly could to keep this project moving as well. But in the end we’re stuck between a rock and a hard place.”

Since 2021, Charters Towers Regional Council has acted as the developer and owner of the 10,000 megalitre Big Rocks Weir project, which is slated to be constructed on the Burdekin River 24km upstream of Charters Towers.

Construction on the weir is earmarked to begin in 2026 - if milestones are met on time.

Special Envoy for Northern Australia Senator Susan McDonald, former Charters Towers Regional Council Mayor Frank Beveridge, Deputy Mayor Sonia Bennetto and Queensland Water Minister Glenn Butcher at the Big Rocks Weir site on the Burdekin River north of Charters Towers.

Charters Towers mayor Liz Schmidt said handing the weir over to the Queensland Government was the “best decision for the success of the project”.

“This decision will mitigate the significant financial and operational risks of the project for the council,” Cr Schmidt said.

Traeger MP Robbie Katter tours the Big Rocks Weir site on the Burdekin River.

Member for Traeger Robbie Katter backs the Charters Towers Regional Council’s decision to “wipe their hands” of Big Rocks Weir.

“For three years now, the Charters Towers Regional Council have been tirelessly jumping through hoop after hoop put in front of them, only to be told to spend more rate payers’ money on more studies or plans – enough is enough!” Mr Katter said.

“This just demonstrates that the Government and the bureaucracy in Brisbane have no appetite whatsoever to help develop and progress North Queensland.”

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

Mr Katter complimented Charters Towers Regional Council for being “visionary” and pushing the weir project through its planning phase, but accused the Labor Government of saying “no” at every opportunity.

“I fully support the council’s decision to give the project back to the state government,” Mr Katter said.

“The council have done an excellent job in persisting this far, but as the project is starting to show signs of construction the State Government should be the ones to deal with their own bureaucrats.”

Big Rocks Weir is designed to boost water storage to feed irrigated agriculture and increase town water security in the region.

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