Bill builder for defective Paradise Dam repairs, LNP says

Queensland’s opposition has called on the government to pursue private contractors involved in the construction of the defective Paradise Dam.

Queensland LNP leader Deb Frecklington in Brisbane. Picture: Sarah Marshall

Queensland’s Opposition Leader has called on the Palaszczuk government to pursue private contractors involved in the construction of the defective Paradise Dam to help pay for repairs and avoid a permanent lowering of water storage levels.

Deb Frecklington said she was shocked the government was considering cutting the ­capacity of the dam to save money in capital works as design and construction problems are fixed over the next six years.

State-owned SunWater, operator of the dam, and the state government have been aware of the problems for years and recently took action amid safety fears for a major flood.

The $200m dam near Bundaberg was built by a joint public-private consortium under the Beattie Labor government and opened in 2005.

It was revealed by The Australian that SunWater and the government have known about the design and construction faults since 2015, and were permanently lowering water levels.

Natural Resources Minister Anthony Lynham was given two options early last year; an estimated $700m repair bill for returning the dam to full storage capacity or cutting the capacity to 55 per cent at a cost of $180m.

Dr Lynham has consistently refused to release safety review reports or answer detailed questions about the repairs.

In September, SunWater began releasing 105,000 megalitres, citing safety concerns about the 52m-high dam wall in the event of a 2013 floods repeat.

Ms Frecklington said Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk needed to take charge and “move heaven and earth” to find out why Paradise Dam was defective.

“Thanks to Labor, taxpayers simply haven’t got what they paid for,’’ she said. “If there is a claim against the designers, engineers or construction company, Labor needs to ensure it is made.

“Queenslanders haven’t got what they paid for and now ­regional water security is in jeopardy. The LNP is determined to get to the bottom of this cover-up to give farmers and taxpayers the answers they deserve.”

The dam’s water security has underpinned an agricultural investment boom in the region, with hundreds of millions of dollars pouring into new macadamia, avocado and citrus plan­tations beside long-established cane fields.

On Sunday, outgoing SunWater boss Nicole Hollows said several “lower supply capacity levels’’ were being considered and the cost of repair could lead to the downscaling of the dam.

Dr Lynham again failed to answer questions about estimates for the repair bill or plans to permanently lower the storage levels of the dam in the drought-declared region.

“Building Queensland will be providing advice to the government by February 2020 on the longer term options to ensure the dam is safe, recognising the needs for water security in the ­region,’’ he said.

“Determining customer demand will be a key consideration of the options assessment.”