Shorten pledges $ 300m
MAYOR Jenny Hill has praised Bill Shorten’s promise to invest $ 300 million into Townsville’s water and power security solutions.
The Opposition Leader was in town yesterday to announce $ 100 million in funding to implement the findings of the Townsville Water Taskforce and $ 200 million for a hydroelectro power station at Burdekin Falls Dam.
Cr Hill said Mr Shorten’s promises to fund the taskforce findings would alleviate pressure on ratepayers.
“We only have approximately 78,000 ratepayers who pay water and waste water fees so we really have to ensure that those property owners can afford the solutions that are put forward,” she said.
“The grant that’s offered by federal Labor is a great start and will ensure that we will have security because water security is first and foremost for our ability to grow our city.”
Mr Shorten said Townsville residents had waited long enough.
“What we need to do is governments and political parties of all persuasions need to start addressing having a reliable supply of power and a reliable supply of water, so that Townsville can help fulfil its bright and exciting future,” he said.
Herbert MP Cathy O’Toole welcomed the announcement.
“Today is an absolutely amazing and exciting day for Townsville,” she said.
“We know, and I know from talking to people in our community that water and energy are major issues.”
The proposed hydro- electro power station has been criticised by Minister for Northern Australia Matt Canavan and Queensland Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls.
“The introduction of a hydro- pumped power scheme on the Burdekin Falls Dam will do nothing to reduce the cost of electricity and it will do nothing to relieve Townsville from its power supply prob- lems,” Mr Nicholls said. He also said a coal- fired power station in North Queensland proposed earlier this year would provide more reliable power.
“That baseload power will help support the copper refinery, it may help start the Yabulu nickel refinery ... and support Sun Metals zinc refinery as well,” he said.
“This hydro scheme ... according to reports, will barely provide enough power for 10 days work at the Yabulu nickel refinery.”
Kennedy MP Bob Katter said he believed the Burdekin power scheme would prevent the Hell’s Gate dam project from going ahead while creating less power and fewer jobs.
“Shorten’s statement is not giving us anything ... He’s saying you don’t need any development, you don’t need it from Hell’s Gate, it’s about stopping Hell’s Gate,” he said.
“Hell’s Gate irrigates the desert uplands, it reduces turbidity onto the Barrier Reef. Overwhelmingly more important is the creation of 30,000 jobs.”