Farmers furious at ‘blame-shifting’ Paradise dam ads

Bundaberg farmers have attacked state-owned Sunwater over its new mental health advertising campaign for locals.

Water running over the Paradise Dam.

Bundaberg farmers have attacked state-owned Sunwater over its new mental health advertising campaign for locals “feeling concerned about what’s happening” at the defective Paradise Dam.

Sunwater has been running print and radio ads recommending people see a local GP or contact a help line ahead of this week’s sittings of a commission of inquiry into the design and structural problems of the dam, opened in 2005.

The height of the 300,000-megalitre dam, the source of irrigation for the one of Australia’s most productive food bowls around Bundaberg, is being lowered to begin repairs that could take up to five years to complete.

It was deemed unsafe in the event of a major flood after sustaining damage in the 2013 floods, which is alleged to have been made worse by design problems and faulty construction.

Water Minister Anthony Lynham has refused to commit to restoring the full capacity of the dam, despite pleas from the local council and agriculture groups responsible for a quarter of Australia’s produce.

Bundaberg Fruit & Vegetable Growers Co-operative managing director Bree Grima said the community had been shocked by the advertisement of Sunwater, operator of the dam.

She said Sunwater and the government should fix the dam and guarantee water security, “as was promised when farmers invested in their properties”, rather than run advertisements “trying to shift the responsibility onto ­individuals”.

“There is a solution … and that is to fix the dam wall, not run ­advertisements that will only add to farmers’ stress.

“This problem lies squarely at the feet of the government,” Ms Grima said.

“They built the Paradise Dam and they should fix it to guarantee water security.

“Only fixing Paradise Dam can ensure the mental health of farmers and their employees.

“It is an insult to the people who have invested in the region based on guarantees from the state government. ‘’

The Palaszczuk government announced a formal inquiry into the “root cause of structural and stability ­issues” with the dam after a series of reports by The Australian revealed major design and construction problems.