MSF GIVES SWEET ASSURANCE FOR DAM GO-AHEAD

Sugar giant throws support behind Nullinga project as pundits say ‘no more delays’

THE country’s largest sugarcane grower has guaranteed it would draw water from the Nullinga Dam project and pave the way for huge agricultural growth in the Far North.

MSF Sugar chief executive Mike Barry said the company was “happy to support and underwrite” the estimated $425 million project because it was “vital” to their Tablelands expansion plans.

“That is going to be the big enabler to more growth up there,” he said.

“Fundamentally, we just have a shortage of water relative to the good quality agriculture land up there.”

Advance Cairns chief executive Kevin Byrne said the commitment strengthened the Nullinga Dam business case and called on the State Government to release the findings of a feasibility study immediately.

He said there were no excuses any more and the “days of procrastination” were over.

“For the first time this gives people unequivocal reason to continue to develop Nullinga Dam,” he said.

“Here we have some serious international investment in water infrastructure.”

The dam has the potential to double MSF Sugar’s production at their Tablelands mill and $75 million green energy power station.

The company represents about 2 per cent of the Tablelands gross regional product.

“There is no excuse anymore for any degree of equivocation from either the federal or state government in providing the necessary infrastructure to grow and develop our agricultural assets in North Queensland,” Mr Byrne said.

But the State Government yesterday would not commit to releasing the business case, saying it was “still being considered.”

“We welcome this announcement from MSF and look forward to formal confirmation of their proposal through the department,” a spokesman said

“The Queensland Government will take this new information into consideration when deciding whether the project should proceed to full business case.”

The Federal Government spent $5 million on the study, undertaken by Marsden Jacobs on behalf of stateowned Building Queensland.

Economist Bill Cummings estimates more than $400 million of the agriculture industry was at stake with Lake Tinaroo now dipping below 44 per cent capacity.

Mr Cummings said the Nullinga Dam project was vital.

“It is absolutely essential we come to grips with the need for additional water storage – for agriculture, for urban water supply and of course there is always that recreational value,” he said. “It is essential to take a long-term view. It takes a while for these things to really come through to full impact.”