Putting taps on Stage 2
A PERMANENT solution to Townsville’s long- term water security would pave the way for further economic investment across all industries, according to a key independent authority on the issue.
Independent chair of the Townsville Water Taskforce Brad Webb said above all else long- term water security was a “major priority” for Townsville.
“It cannot wait any longer to be fixed and my hope is for all levels of government to work with each other to resolve the problem,” he said.
This week the Bulletin revealed the Townsville City Council wrote to Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack imploring him for $ 200 million in Commonwealth funding for Stage 2 of the Haughton Pipeline Duplication.
The council is overseeing the construction of Stage 1 of the duplication as part of a $ 225 million water package funded by the State Government.
Mr Webb said he did not want to pre- empt the taskforce’s water security report, which has been completed and is with the Federal Government for consideration, but hoped its findings would be well received. The full report is expected to be released in the coming weeks around the same time as the Hells Gates Dam feasibility study.
Mr Webb said the issues addressed by the taskforce were “completely separate” to the Hells Gates Dam proposal.
“I think Hells Gates is a fantastic system and it should be built, but it is an agricultural project … long- term sustainable water supply is still the immediate priority for Townsville,” he said.
“Townsville is at the intersection of the mining province, the Great Barrier Reef and agriculture to the north and south.
“So having a well- equipped city with great infrastructure and water security, a good port and rail network is going to as- sist with growth in every area.”
Mr Webb said long- term water security would be an end to Townsville being seen as a “second class city”.
“We’ve got to say goodbye to Brownsville,” he said.
Townsville Enterprise chief executive Patricia O’Callaghan said Stage 2 of the Haughton was highlighted as an immediate priority in the organisation’s 2018 Election Priorities document launched in Canberra in August.
“In this document, it is clearly articulated that this project is the key water solu- tion priority for Townsville,” she said. “Since our Canberra delegation, we have followed up these initial discussions with a second visit to Canberra to meet with Government and the Opposition, to again reiterate this priority among others that are critical to our region.
“We have also recently hosted shadow treasurer Chris Bowen at Townsville Enterprise and the Deputy Prime Minister on Monday, while staying in close contact with the chair of the water taskforce across water security discussions.”