Hells Gates deemed as a ‘ long- term vision’
TOWNSVILLE Enterprise chief executive Patricia O’Callaghan said Hells Gates was part of a “long- term vision” to develop Northern Australia by securing new sources of water and energy to expand the region’s irrigated agriculture industry.
She said the 12- month feasibility study found construction of Hells Gates was feasible, with no major environmental barriers found.
“The study shows Hells Gates could be a nation- building project and Townsville Enterprise calls for a bipartisan political commitment to the $ 25 million business case as recommended by SMEC,” she said. Ms O’Callaghan said Hells Gates was still “very conceptual” and not relevant to Townsville’s current water security plans.
“Hells Gates is an agricultural and power project and is future focused,” she said. Ms O’Callaghan said stakeholders would not commit to the project without a comprehensive EIS.
“We look forward to all levels of government working collectively to support this process,” she said.
Mayor of Charters Towers Regional Council Liz Schmidt said she believed her community would strongly support construction of the dam.
“Water security, especially for agriculture, will be a major issue into the future,” she said. “The Hells Gates Dam proposal, which would include the Big Rocks Weir, is exactly the type of project we need to help secure our economic future.”