Calls for State Government to back proposed Hughenden Irrigation Scheme
The community in Hughenden is at the forefront of drought-proofing the state, but the small Central West Queensland town is still waiting on the state Government to give them the tick of approval for a key project in the area.
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THE community in Hughenden is at the forefront of drought-proofing the state, but the small Central West Queensland town is still waiting on the State Government to give them the tick of approval for a key project in the area.
The proposed Hughenden Irrigation Scheme will see Queensland’s first dam built in thirty years, promising to provide irrigation for over 10,000 hectares of farmland and has already secured $180 million dollars in funding from the federal Government.
But now, with all three levels of Government backing the project, KAP Leader and Member for Kennedy Bob Katter says there’s no better time for the Palazczuk Government to get on board so construction can finally go ahead.
Mr Katter toured the region on Monday, flanked by state counterpart Robbie Katter, Assistant minister for roads and acting deputy prime minister Scott Buchholz, and ex treasurer Sir Leo Hieschler.
Mr Katter visited a model property before helping unveil the project’s foundation stone, and connecting with locals at the Royal Hotel.
The 200 thousand megalitre dam surrounded by natural topography on three sides and requiring only one built side, is designed to capitalise on the boom bust cycle of heavy rainfall in the area.
A weir will divert water through a channel from the Flinders River into a natural capture point acting as the dam, harvesting one third of the water which passes or one twentieth of what’s in the river.
It’s hoped the scheme will be used as a blueprint for similar projects in the region.
Mr Katter said the dam would be a “revenue creating investment” by
“What we’re talking about here is a make money project,” he said.
“Expend the money because the economy is slowing down to zero and you’ve got to do something, so you borrow money and spend it on public works.
“It’s your choice whether you want to spend it on football stadiums, ring roads or tunnels in Brisbane, or whether you want to spend it on the development of your country.
“Now’s the time to do it, you’ll never see a better time with interest rates nearly zero.”
The dam is expected to inject new life into declining rural towns, with the water supply leading to greater opportunities for growing crops, feed and raising cattle.
Scott Buccholz said the federal Government will continue to back the project one hundred per cent, with it’s location a key selling point.
“Currently the project has received two million dollars for the feasibility, our finances and our commitment to this project are as solid as Scott Morrison is the Prime Minister,” he said.
“I’ve seen projects like this stall before but what I haven’t seen are projects of this magnitude with such an enthusiastic board … There’s a ground swell of support here that is unprecedented.
“It’s on a main transport corridor, it’s on a rail corridor and any product grown here has access to the north’s greatest port so the transport and logistic benefits are unprecedented.
If the project gets off the ground, it’s expected more will be backed north of McKay and Mount Isa.
PUSH FOR HUGHENDEN DAM
Jeff Reid’s land has been nominated as a model property in the push for a Hughenden dam, and now he has a big rock in his backyard to prove it.
The foundation stone was unveiled on Monday to celebrate securing $180 million in Federal Government funding for the project, which is now seeking the go-ahead from the State Government.
The property is a green light in the heart of a barren land, surrounded by flat, dry, brown scrubby country.
It’s also a centrepiece to the fight for securing Queensland’s first dam in 30 years.
Mr Reid said residents of Hughenden could see properties like his multiplying around their town.
“This is what happens when you put water on good soil … it’s easily done,” he said.
“If we can keep the cattle industry stable by having grass feed lots, meatworks, all the things that flow on from that, it’s the chicken and egg — something has to be done first.
“We see the water supply as the threshold we have to get over. It might snowball into dryland farming, it’s just something where someone has to put skin in the game and do something instead of just talking about it.”
The foundation stone was unveiled on Monday by KAP leader and Kennedy MP Bob Katter alongside the Hughenden Irrigation Project board, of which Mr Reid is a member.
The rock is a symbol of the Federal Government’s commitment to the project, and will be moved closer to the dam when it’s built.
The stone is a basalt rock, symbolising the water that runs past the site and comes from basalt country.
LNP Senator for Queensland Susan McDonald encouraged residents to contact state Labor members and urge them to back the project.
“For the North to be successful we need water, we need electricity, but more importantly what we need is people,” she said.
“What this project does is it gives hope and confidence to communities like Hughenden.
“Without it the North can’t thrive, and … when the North thrives, Australia thrives.”
Originally published as Calls for State Government to back proposed Hughenden Irrigation Scheme
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