Shorten pledges $ 200m for hydro power, $ 100m for city water security Labor gets funds flowing
OPPOSITION Leader Bill Shorten will today announce a $ 300 million cash splash to secure Townsville’s water and power future.
The Labor Party will commit $ 200 million for the construction of a new hydroelectric power station at the Burdekin Dam, along with $ 100 million to implement the findingsg of the Townsville Water Taskforce. The pledge comes after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced an investigation into the establishment of the hydro power station at the weekend.
Mr Shorten said the power station would create 150 jobs and generate enough electricity to power 30,000 homes.
“This is a vital future- focused project for North Queensland that will deliver sustainable energy supply for North Queensland homes, manufacturing businesses and export industries,” he said.
“Labor’s new hydro- electric generator will give Townsville the energy it needs, without further putting at risk the health of the Reef on which tens of thousands of North Q u e e n s l a n d jobs rely.
“The Government only seems interested in building new hydro power in the south and has completely ignored the potential for new hydro power in the North.”
Mr Shorten said the funding would be raised from reducing the Northern Australia Infrastructure $ 200 million.
“This fund is yet to deliver investment to a single project,” Mr Shorten said.
“Labor will make this $ 200 million available to fund the Burdekin hydro- electric generation plant, pending the outcome of the Queensland Government feasibility study.”
Labor has also committed $ 100 million to implement the plan to be put in place by the water taskforce.
“We will deliver the infrastructure needed to get Townsville off water restrictions and give it the water se- Facility by curity it needs to continue to grow,” Mr Shorten said.
“Water security is an essential component in attracting Australians to the regions, which will help build growth opportunities in Northern Australia.
“Ignoring the problem will only make the pressures more acute and see restrictions become more severe.
“With this commitment we will ensure the hard work of the taskforce is matched with real action by a federal Labor government.”
Mr Shorten said the cash would most likely be used to build further pipelines running from the Burdekin Falls Dam to the Ross Dam.
“Labor will use the funding to implement the findings of the taskforce, working with the State Government and local government to finalise the design and funding for the project,” he said.
“This will most likely include a second pipeline to provide additional water every day to homes and businesses in Townsville. The design of this pipeline will be finalised following consultation with the local community.” Editorial, page 14