WATERTIGHT PLEDGE
Libs’ $ 225m plan guarantees water fix
THE LNP has promised a cash splash of $ 225 million for Townsville’s water security fix, with Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls pledging to duplicate the Haughton River pipeline.
The pre- election announcement matches Labor’s promise in last week’s Budget and guarantees water security will be addressed no matter which party wins government. Labor’s money would be used for a solution deemed fit by the Water Taskforce following the release of its interim report next Friday.
Mr Nicholls will announce his plan in Townsville this morning, with the LNP to initiate the project within the first 100 days of winning office.
He said an LNP government would upgrade the Haughton Channel and duplicate the pipeline.
THE LNP has promised a cash splash of $ 225 million for Townsville’s water security issues, with Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls pledging to duplicate the Haughton River pipeline.
The pre- election announcement matches Labor’s promise in last week’s Budget and guarantees the city’s water security will be addressed no matter which party wins government.
Labor’s money would be used for a solution deemed fit by the Water Taskforce following the release of its interim report next Friday.
Mr Nicholls will announce the plan in Townsville this morning, with the LNP to call for expressions of interest for construction and design contractors within the first 100 days of winning office.
He said an LNP government would upgrade the Haughton Channel and duplicate the Ross River Dam pipeline.
“We will not delay funding for this project and we will provide the funding as fast as the engineers can build the project,” Mr Nicholls said.
“Southeast Queensland has had billions of dollars spent by Labor governments on the water infrastructure grid, including on a water desalina- tion plant that is now sitting around collecting dust.”
The existing pipeline is capable of pumping 130ML of water a day into the Ross River Dam, but the Haughton Pipeline would provide an additional 234ML a day. This would bring the total capacity to more than 350ML a day.
Mr Nicholls said Townsville’s growth was at risk because of water security problems and it was about time the region got its fair share.
“Townsville’s water security is in doubt unless the current channel and pipeline system is upgraded,” he said.
“The LNP’s realistic water security plan is about putting Townsville back on track to prosperity, a prosperity that has been decimated under Labor over the past three years.
“The equation is simple – water security equals business investment, which equals jobs.”
LNP water supply spokesman Michael Hart said the project would boast greater efficiency than existing infrastructure and bring down pumping costs per megalitre.
“The current Haughton Pipeline provides a bulk water supply link to the Burdekin Haughton Water Supply Scheme,” he said.
Mr Hart said Labor could not be trusted to build the vital infrastructure projects Townsville needed. “Labor always promises the world but never, never delivers,” he said.