$20 million drought resilience package announced, as more detail on Toowoomba-Warwick pipeline released
Plans to include regional towns of Cambooya, Greenmount, Nobby and Clifton in Toowoomba-Warwick pipeline, but Toowoomba Regional Council remains cautious about project.
Development
Don't miss out on the headlines from Development. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the regional townships of Cambooya, Greenmount, Nobby and Clifton are planned to be included in the proposed Toowoomba-Warwick water pipeline.
The Premier announced a further $20 million as a “next step” in a drought resilience package this morning in Warwick, which will include $8 million in early works for the Toowoomba-Warwick pipeline, including detailed design, surveying, and geotechnical works.
That means SEQWater will work with Toowoomba and Southern Downs Regional Council on the pipeline.
Also included in the package is $4.6 million to reconnect groundwater to Allora, $1.4 million to assist SDRC to move industrial users to groundwater to free up supply for urban use, and $4.5 million to increase Leslie Dam’s capacity, upgrading pumps and the water treatment system.
Water Minister Glenn Butcher will today release the feasibility study into the pipeline, and the Premier said the government was getting on with the full business case.
“When we do get to the stage of building the pipeline, it will be 703 jobs,” the Premier said.
“Its really good infrastructure for this region. It’s going to drought proof the region. And our government is absolutely, absolutely committed to building that pipeline.”
Toowoomba regional councillor Nancy Sommerfield was also present at this morning’s press conference.
Cr Sommerfield said it was important that all local governments collaborate “in pretty well every aspect of the businesses that they do” – especially water.
“Having said that, it is important for our council to ensure our long term water sustainability remains intact,” Cr Sommerfield said.
“We’ve done a lot of work on our water business over many years and we have water security for our Toowoomba bulk water supply to 2050.
“And we want to maintain that. So it’s important that this business case highlights just what impact may happen on our Toowoomba bulk water supply, and hopefully there won’t be any impact and we’ll be able to continue on this journey fully supportive.
“Our council will need to make that decision once the business case is done and hopefully we can look forward to good long term water security for everybody.”
More Coverage
Why ratepayers could be hit twice for multi-billion dollar dam upgrades
A Toowoomba councillor has outlined why ratepayers across the region would be slugged twice for essential dam upgrades, which set to rack up a multi-billion dollar bill across Queensland.
Massive subdivision flagged as farmland in growth area hits market
Developers are circling after a prominent farming family placed a huge parcel of land in a key growth area outside Toowoomba on the market.
Supermarket, cafe planned for growing small town in two-year first
A large vacant parcel in a fast-growing Toowoomba region town could become the community’s most significant new development in years.
CFMEU officials promise to ‘bury’ Labor at upcoming state election
CFMEU officials in regional Queensland have promised to campaign aggressively against Labor at the upcoming state election after the militant union was forced in administration.
Moves made to reform council’s development ‘call in’ process
The Toowoomba council will explore changes to how elected officials can “call in” developments for special meetings, in a move that has been endorsed by a major player.
‘Here to help’: Developers join forces on massive housing estate
A new Toowoomba subdivision now under construction could eventually provide homes for more than 1600 people, as the city continues to battle a housing shortage.