Next move to update public on project

THE Hells Gates Dam feasibility study has been completed and Townsville and Charters Towers residents are being invited to community consultations on the multi- billion dollar project.

Townsville Enterprise says it has concluded delivery of the $ 2.2 million Hells Gates Feasibility Study which examined, in detail, the dam’s engineering and financial feasibility as well as potential environmental and economic impacts.

Townsville Enterprise director policy and investment Michael McMillan said the project would be submitted to the Department of Agriculture and Water and the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy for the findings to be reviewed.

“Feedback will then be provided from the departments on any areas that need adjustments or require further detail and/ or explanation,” he said.

“Townsville Enterprise has provided recommendations to both levels of government as to the next practical steps to consider the viability of the business case for the project.”

Mr McMillan said Townsville Enterprise was in the process of facilitating two community information sessions to provide updates on the project to both the Charters Towers and Townsville communities.

The Charters Towers public information session will be held on Wednesday, May 30, at the Arthur Titley Centre from 10am to noon.

The date of the Townsville community information session, delivered in partnership with the Townsville City Council, was not available at the time of publication.

Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy Anthony Lynham said building water infrastructure, including in North Queensland, was a major priority for the Palaszczuk Government.

“As such, we have gone ahead with either feasibility studies or business cases on the Burdekin Falls Dam Safety Improvements and Burdekin Hydro Study, evaluation of demand for water and environmental implications of raising Burdekin Falls Dam and the Urannah and Nullinga dams,” he said.

“The draft report has been reviewed by state agencies and these comments and suggestions for improvement have been provided to TEL.”

Dr Lynham said the Queensland Government’s role in the Hells Gates assessment was to facilitate Federal Government funding and to review the studies and provide technical input and feedback.

Charters Towers mayor Liz Schmidt said the regional council looked forward to the development of the Hells Gates Dam project including any proposed weirs upstream from the Charters Towers weir.