Andrew Wallace slams desalination plant plans, Jarrod Bleijie attacks Kawana option

Sunshine Coast MPs and locals have blasted the state government’s $8bn water desalination plant with a coastal suburb listed as a possible location. Watch the video.

Federal MP Andrew Wallace has lashed the state government over its $8bn desalination plant plans for the southern Sunshine Coast while the region’s long-awaited rail network upgrade languishes.

Mr Wallace slammed the announcement of what he described as a “costly desal plant”, questioning what he said was a lack of detail in the announcement.

He lamented the lack of progress on vital rail infrastructure in the region and questioned the impact the desal plant would have on taxpayers.

“Has Labor seriously not learned its lesson from the ugly eyesore that is the unused desal plant in Tugun on the Gold Coast?,” he said.

On Tuesday Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk revealed a second desalination plant, thought to cost between $4bn and $8bn, would be built north of Brisbane, while the existing Gold Coast plant would receive an expansion.

Looking south along Kawana Beach.

Mr Wallace was scathing of the commitment, unveiled as part of the SEQ Water 30-year plan.

“They want to jam 500,000-plus people in here by 2040 and this is their solution for water security,” Mr Wallace said.

Ms Palaszczuk said cost and location would be determined when a detailed business case was finalised, but flagged Kawana as an option for the facility due to be operational in 2035.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Kawana MP Jarrod Bleijie said residents were left angered and anxious by the proposal and lack of detail.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Member for Kawana, Jarrod Bleijie. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire

“Kawana is now caught in the crossfire with these plans to dump a desal plant in Kawana,“ Mr Bleijie said.

“Where in Kawana will it be built?

“Which Kawana beach will it be on?

“Will it be where Loggerhead turtles nest?

“The Premier hasn’t ruled these out and she can’t answer basic questions.”

Kawana Island resident Roy Baxter believes “there is nothing concrete” about the plan.

“It sounds like they’re running something up a flagpole,” Mr Baxter said.

“If they’re going to build it in Kawana, they would have to reserve the land now you would think.

“It’s all very vague.”

Bokarina resident Jennifer Black is not in favour of having a desalination plant at Kawana.

“I just hope it doesn’t happen in Kawana, it just wouldn’t fit into Kawana I’m afraid,” she said.

However, Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson advised that following a discussion with State Minister for Water Glenn Butcher on Wednesday, there is no commitment to a specific site for a new desalination plant on the Sunshine Coast.

“Minister Butcher informed me that a number of sites in the Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay regions will be assessed and this assessment process will be undertaken by SEQWater, as the bulk water authority for southeast Queensland,” Mr Jamieson said.

“Water security is not a new issue for SEQ generally, or the Sunshine Coast specifically.

“It has been recognised for well over a decade that a new water supply source, or sources, need to be identified and established, given the area’s significant growth and the impacts of a changing climate on existing storages and water supply sources.”

Mr Jamieson added that all available water supply and storage options should be on the table – not just desalination.

“Communities should be informed about, and engaged on, options such as recycled water, local harvesting, desalination, additional bulk water storages – just to name a few,” he said.

“Council wants the Queensland Government and SEQWater to ensure the community and Council are properly informed of potential solutions and the likely costs to residents of these solutions.

“We also want to ensure that the community and Council are appropriately engaged in the decision-making process.”

Inside the Tugun desalination plant.

Ms Palaszczuk this week said that a combination of desalination and recycled water could service households in the future.

“It’s not a case of one or the other, we’ll need both,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

Mr Wallace called on the state government to commit funding for Sunshine Coast Rail, with the 32km stretch from Beerwah to Maroochydore viewed as critical to the region ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

He called on Caloundra MP Jason Hunt to make clear the infrastructure priority for the region should be rail.

Mr Hunt has been contacted for comment.

Originally published as Andrew Wallace slams desalination plant plans, Jarrod Bleijie attacks Kawana option