Funding cleared to assess irrigation scheme

A CHEQUE is in the mail for work to start on a $10 million business case for a water security project that could open up 8000ha of cropping and grazing land near Cooktown.

Regional Development Australia Far North will this week receive the first payment for its feasibility investigation and environmental impact report for the Lakeland irrigation scheme.

Natural Resources Minister Anthony Lynham said the project had huge potential.

“The proposed Lakeland project could bring dollars to the Far North by opening up land for more farming crops such as bananas, watermelons, other horticulture and cattle,” he said.

Cook MP Cynthia Lui said the State Government had committed $848 million in water infrastructure for Queensland since 2017.

The tally included $176 million for the creation of Rookwood Weir west of Rockhampton, $215 million for the Haughton pipeline duplication project in Townsville, and $24 million for the next stage of assessment for the proposed Hells Gates Dam.

A further $28 million has been committed to modernising an existing open channel irrigation scheme on the Tablelands, while $13.6 million has been earmarked to kickstart the new Emu Swamp Dam on the Granite Belt.

“More water from this irrigation project would mean more agricultural production and more jobs for the Far North,” Ms Lui said.

“A robust assessment of the project will give everyone on the Cape a clear understanding of the project’s viability.”

RDA Far North is scheduled to complete the business case and environmental investigations by late 2022.