Several gaping holes in pipeline proposal
LINDA Ashton’s regular articles in the Bulletin are always full of facts and figures and contain evidence of detailed research by her dedicated team of volunteers.
However this week’s Water for Townsville Action Group’s article on the scarcity of water seems to ignore the FNQ elephant in the room.
That being, in the last six weeks more quality fresh water has flowed out of the mouth of the Burdekin, Herbert and Tully rivers than is required to provide for every man, woman and child in the country for a very long time.
Dr John Bradfield realised this back in the 1930s and developed detailed plans to harness this water for the people.
I wonder what he would say today when presented with the proposed solution to Townsville’s water crisis.
I’m sure a duplication of the Haughton pipeline would not be at the top of his list.
The water action group has proposed a staged solution that has a major flaw in the fact that politicians will take forever to fully implement it leaving Townsville at the mercy of our regular dry periods.
Pumping costs will continue to increase and their vague figures on using renewables haven’t been fully costed leaving the potential for major running costs that should have been invested in a more selfsufficient scheme. Should I mention gravity? I would support their staged scheme but only if it is implemented in a timely manner.
The upper Tully as well as the Burdekin have the potential to provide gravity- fed water and please don’t mention World Heritage. If they can build a Skyrail through it in Cairns then they can set up water harvesting in the upper Tully.
Surely there are civil engineers out there of the calibre of Bradfield who can come up with something better than another pipeline to pump through.
The one sobering piece of information Townsville residents must heed is not to waste water.
Already on my nightly dog walks I see water running down gutters from irrigation systems.
People have to be more aware of this precious resource. ALLAN FRANKLIN,
Mount Louisa.