Big Rocks or bust: Katter
‘ We’ll attack like savage wildmen’
OUTSPOKEN federal MP Bob Katter is adding his weight for the Coalition Government to fund the Big Rocks Weir near Charters Towers, claiming his party will “attack like savage wildmen” if the bulldozers are not moved on to site.
It comes as LNP Dawson MP George Christensen and LNP candidate for Herbert Phillip Thompson argue that funds allocated to the shelved Townsville Eastern Access Rail Corridor be directed to Big Rocks Weir and to further studies for the Hells Gate Dam.
Mr Katter and Hughenden Irrigation Project Corporation proponents met with Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday to push Hells Gates, Big Rocks Weir and the corporation’s Hughenden plans, based on the Flinders River catchment.
Mr Katter said the Government needed to deliver on its promises to build dams and the Big Rocks Weir on the Burdekin River, 25km north of Charters Towers, was ready to be built.
“As far as we are concerned, if there’s no dozers out there in January or February we are going to attack like savage wildmen,” Mr Katter said. “They’ve told us for three elections they are going to build dams and they’ve done nothing.”
Mr Katter said Big Rocks would provide water for Charters Towers residents, farmers and graziers and underpin development of a quartering abattoir, tannery and blood and bone plant.
Meanwhile federal Labor MP for Herbert Cathy O’Toole said Mr Thompson needed to address water security of Herbert before backing Big Rocks Weir and studies for Hells Gates.
“Herbert needs long- term water security. He should be pushing his Government to match Labor’s commitment of $ 100 million for stage two of the ( Haughton) pipeline,” Ms O’Toole said.
Mr Thompson said the Government was doing due diligence on the Townsville water taskforce’s report.
“I 100 per cent will be advocating for long- term water security for Townsville,” Mr Thompson said. “A responsible government does its research before any decisions are made, not just throwing money in the air.”
Townsville Enterprise CEO Patricia O’Callaghan said it was not for Townsville Enterprise to direct governments on how they should fund projects.
“The projects listed in our Federal Election Priorities document all deserve funding. … Our focus has been on proving up the potential of the Hells Gates dam and its associated agricultural irrigation program and now we ask that all political parties consider the significant opportunities that investing in the next phase of this project can deliver,” she said.