Queensland Government pledges $600m to Paradise Dam
The Premier has pledged $600m to rebuild one of the most crucial dams in the country as the Bundaberg mayor joins her in calling on the Federal Government to match the money to fix “Australia’s problem”.
Bundaberg
Don't miss out on the headlines from Bundaberg. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Bundaberg farmers involved in the Paradise Dam Class Action have welcomed Tuesday’s commitment from the Queensland Premier to repair Paradise Dam, but say the class action won’t stop.
Premier Palaszczuk and her deputy Stephen Miles, travelled to Paradise Dam on Tuesday to announce a $600 million commitment to fix the dam, with the hope of the Federal Government funding a further $600 million to meet the project’s $1.2 billion budget.
Bundaberg agribusiness lawyer Tom Marland, who is leading the class action on behalf of local farmers, says the commitment is welcome news for a community which spent two years grappling with uncertainty about the dam’s future.
“Since September 2019 we have been battling drought conditions, worker shortages, Covid restrictions and the fear that Paradise Dam would not be reinstated” Mr Marland said.
“We have been living with the unknown and yesterday’s announcement was met with relief rather than joy.
“While the announcement to repair Paradise Dam is welcome, I and many others, won’t be sleeping properly until the day the dam is actually fully restored and full of water – like it was in September 2019 when this whole nightmare started.”
Mr Marland said there had been no “parades in the street” over the news.
“However, I take my hat off to the first term member for Bundaberg Tom Smith for the work he has done to bring Paradise Dam to his colleagues’ attention,” he said.
“A lesser politician would have just focused on his own electorate without wanting to ruffle any feathers. I say this with all sincerity that we were lucky to have a bloke like Tom Smith on our side.”
Mr Marland said there were still many questions around why the state and taxpayers were expected to foot such a huge repair bill for a 15-year-old dam.
“Even the way the announcement was handled raises more questions than answers,” he said.
“I can’t recall hearing the Premier mention Paradise Dam before; yet she suddenly shows up at the dam, committing $600 million to a $1.2 billion project and expects the Federal Government to stump up to fix a problem that they ultimately the State Government created.
“The Federal Government have been supportive of restoring Paradise Dam from day one, but they have been waiting on a business plan from the Premier.
“It would have been far more reassuring to this community if the Premier had made a joint announcement, side by side, with our local federal member and Water Minister Keith Pitt. Then we could have real confidence in this project.”
Mr Marland said the class action would “forge ahead”.
“Not only to ensure that the State Government keeps its promise to repair the dam, but also to try and recoup the significant losses already experienced in this region because of the mismanagement of Paradise Dam,” he said.
“While no one doubts Tom Smith’s commitment to seeing Paradise Dam restored, we are yet to be convinced of the Premier’s sincerity.
“Trust is something that is earned, and the Premier will have to actually deliver before she regains the faith of the many in this community.”
The Premier has promised to pitch in$600million to fix Paradise Dam – more than double what it cost to build.
Visiting the dam on Tuesday, Annastacia Palaszczuk said the funds would kickstart the rebuild of the dam, bringing 250 jobs to the Bundaberg Region.
She wants the Federal Government to match the money to cover the full $1.2 billion budget needed to raise the dam back to its original 300,000 megalitre capacity and reinforce the wall.
She said she couldn’t understand why the Federal Water Minister and Hinkler MP Keith Pitt “wouldn’t agree to this”.
Mr Pitt said in ‘in typical form, Labor built it then broke it and have only committed enough money to half repair it” after years of delays.
“It is no coincidence that the announcement comes in the middle of an integrity crisis surrounding the Queensland Labor Government,” Mr Pitt said
“As the local federal member, I have heard first-hand the frustrations and fears from local growers as they waited for a decision on the dam, which took the State Government years to come to – 868 days in fact.
“Since the State Government made the decision to lower the dam wall back in September 2019 I have continually advocated for its restoration, anything less was not going to provide the water security this region needs.
“I have previously stated the Federal Coalition Government stands ready to provide financial assistance and we are now working through that process.”
The early works are set to begin in 2023.
The Premier maintained the $600 million investment in Paradise Dam was a “game changer for the families
and farmers here in Bundaberg”.
“We know this project will deliver water security and safety for the people of Bundaberg. Now it’s time to get on with the job,” she said
“Returning Paradise Dam to its original height and reinforcing the wall will deliver long-term water security for the region and keep communities located further downstream safe.
“This rebuild will also support thousands of long-term jobs and deliver significant flow-on benefits for local businesses and contractors, making it an important initiative in the economic recovery of this region.
“We’re working closely with the Federal Government to secure funding for this project.
“But let me be clear – regardless of Federal support, I am fully committed to rebuilding Paradise Dam.
Bundaberg mayor Jack Dempsey welcomed the Premier’s pledge and joined in calling for Commonwealth support, saying the dam fix was “Australia’s problem”.
“Rebuilding Paradise Dam is not only essential for the Bundaberg Region, it’s vitally important for Australia’s food security,” Mr Dempsey said
“We live in one of the most productive agricultural areas in the world, with an ideal growing climate and highly skilled producers. I’ve said all along there should be a bipartisan approach to fixing Paradise, across party lines and between the state and federal governments.
“I heard the Federal Water Minister on radio this week saying it’s a state problem.
“It‘s Australia’s problem.
“The dam wall had to be fixed for safety reasons. It now needs to be repaired as quickly as possible.”
Bundaberg MP Tom Smith said the project was “absolutely vital for not only the safety of our community, but also for water security”.
“It gives that confidence back to our growers that they can continue to invest in agriculture and horticulture which are two industries that invest back into the region of Bundaberg,” he said
“It’s not just about the jobs on the farm, it’s about the jobs off the farm as well”
“This industry is an industry that’s moving with the times, we know that’s going to be high tech, high skilled and that means high wage jobs for locals here in Bundaberg”.
Shadow Minister for Water Deb Frecklington responded saying the promise ‘wasn’t an announcement, this is the Queensland Government cleaning up its own mess”.
“The Queensland Government broke Paradise Dam and is now repairing the mess created by its own mistake.
“They made a mess and now they want recognition for cleaning it up.
“For the Premier to describe what is essentially a patch up job as her largest investment in water infrastructure is a full admission of the failures of her government when it comes to water security.”
Paradise Dam timeline
Paradise Dam, on the Burnett River, was officially opened by then Premier Peter Beattie in December 2005.
The dam, which came with a price tag of more than $200 million, was built by Burnett Dam Alliance under the Burnett Water Pty Ltd.
It was the largest roller compacted dam built in Australia.
But even before it was finished the project had to overcome controversy when Water Construction Group, part of the Burnett Dam Alliance, went into receivership halfway through the project.
Controversy even rocked the naming of the dam, which had been named after the small goldmining township instead of the Wakka Wakka tribe‘s suggestion of Deglibo Dam, meaning “big rock in river”.
Bundaberg’s record flood event of 2013 caused $24 million damage to the dam, with repair costs spiralling out to tens of millions of dollars more since. But critics of the dam argued there had been leaks and other issues with the dam even before the weather event.
Questions started to be raised over how such a young dam could be so riddled with issues and the State Government would go on to announce it was lowering the spillway by five metres – a move that drew the ire of local farmers.
The government swore the changes were needed to protect the safety of those in the path of dam if it were to burst.
In recent years, the controversial dam has been subject to analysis from international experts, fierce debate between farmers and government, numerous assessments and strong concerns around its sheer strength.
In June 2021, Water Minister Glenn Butcher showed sections of the dam wall which had been removed for testing. Shockingly, they were crumbling apart.
“In a big rain event, potentially that whole layer of concrete would just slide off into the downstream and the wall would just continue to collapse …“ he said as works began on the dam wall.
In December 2021, the State Government announced the wall would be returned to its original height.
Originally published as Queensland Government pledges $600m to Paradise Dam
37-year-old man dies in crash, woman flown to hospital
A 37-year-old man has died following a two-vehicle South Burnett crash , while a 48-year-old woman was rescued from the wreckage and flown to hospital.
Woman taken to hospital after two-vehicle Bundaberg crash
A young woman has been rushed to hospital following a two-vehicle crash in a Bundaberg suburb last night.
The Palaszczuk supporters who have abandoned Steven Miles
An exclusive Courier-Mail poll reveals many of the voters who helped an Annastacia Palaszczuk-led Labor secure victory at the last state election have returned to the LNP.
Who won week three? Watch most BRUTAL Voter Verdict yet
The Courier-Mail’s Voter Verdict have weighed in on the third week of the election campaign with a brutal assessment of both leaders. But who won the week?
Premier vows to open 10 new police beats despite 42 closing
Steven Miles will attempt to open 10 new police beats if elected, despite 42 beats closing since Labor has been in power, something the Premier says was a police service decision.
‘He had no chance’: Moment wife knew husband had been killed on hwy
On hearing a motorbike and truck had crashed on the Bruce Hwy, a Qld woman desperately dialled the Bluetooth on her husband’s helmet, waiting for the answer that would never come.