Plans for new Qld desalination plant: What you said
It’s been an ongoing topic of debate for years but Queenslanders still aren’t happy with the latest plan. JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Opinion
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A multibillion-dollar desalination plant is likely to be built in South East Queensland – and many aren’t happy about it.
Amid cracks in the state Labor government about how to secure the booming region’s future water supply, the government will reveal plans for the construction of the second desalination plant north of Brisbane, thought to cost up to $8bn.
The plan is part of a long-awaited 30-year water strategy for South East Queensland, endorsed by Cabinet in October 2023.
Construction of the plant allows Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to avoid a politically sensitive debate about adding recycled water to the region’s drinking supply for household consumption.
Ms Palaszczuk, a member of parliament and later minister during the millennium drought, advocated splashing cash for the construction of a new desalination plant to avoid restarting a public debate about recycled water within 12 months from an election.
Construction of the new multibillion-dollar desalination plant could also add up to 15 per cent to residents’ water bills to cover the cost.
Under the plan water from the new desalination plant would be pumped directly into the water grid, avoiding evaporation from Wivenhoe Dam.
However news of the plan sparked furious debate among readers, with many pleading for more dams instead, as well as suggesting it was a smokescreen for the government ahead of the next election.
Read what you had to say and join the conversation below >>>
WHAT YOU SAID
I blame Anna!
Susan
Anna is just looking for more excuses to spend our money to achieve nothing. Their last effort on GC has been an absolute joke. If Anna reckons it is going to cost 9B we all know that it will be double that with this lot in charge and their union mates at CFMEU being paid 300K pa to “work” on the job.
stephen
Water is being safely recycled all over the planet. It’s a no-brainer for here as well. But Princess Anna would rather spend billions than educate qlders. The no-brainer are the people who don’t want recycled water
jamie
Bring on 2024 so this mob can hurry up and be out the door, labour has had so many opportunities to build a new dam and pipelines etc, as we all know the last desal plant was wasted money.
John
It’s a masterstroke for Anna to link blackouts and water shortages. I’m sure our Olympics visitors will be impressed.
They’ve lost the plot
Henry Root
I suppose the fast monorail to Cooktown will be announced next!
db
Oh great. Ask Bob Carr how well his Desal plant in NSW is going for him, Labour and the NSW citizens How about fixing and building some dams premier
Mr & Mrs
And how are desalination plants good for the environment? Maybe they should just collect water run off from solar panels – at least they might actually be useful then.
GregD17
Just build more dams you idiotic government
Pamela
Another useless promise. What is wrong with Tugun plant.?
Angry Ant
Desalination plants mean more solar farms and windmills to power them so very expensive no matter how you look at it more dams would be by far the cheaper and more reliable option but then there in comes the Green preferences
We need this to happen!
Alan
If population needs it. It has to be done. Not much will happen without water.
Linda
We drink recycled water now – water goes down the Brisbane river past farms and with other rivers / creeks entering it before Mt Crosby. Those in country areas take water from a river downstream from where another town has fed in waste water.
Daryl
We already use recycled water. Every city on a river extracts water, treats it, uses it, retreats it and releases it downstream back into the river. Then the next city does the same. Warwick’s effluent is in Adelaide’s tap water.
Bert
The cost of desalinated water varies depending on the location and size of the plant, as well as the cost of energy. In general, desalinated water is more expensive than other sources of fresh water, such as surface water or groundwater. Overall, desalination plants are an effective way to produce fresh water from seawater, but they have some limitations. They require energy to operate, produce a brine concentrate that must be discharged properly, and can be more expensive than other sources of fresh water.
Originally published as Plans for new Qld desalination plant: What you said
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