FUNDING DEBATE IN HOT WATER

T OWNSVI L L E E n t e r p r i s e chief executive Patricia O’Callaghan has weighed into the city’s fiery water debate, insisting there’s scope to fund multiple projects at once.

Ms O’Callaghan said funding for the next phase of studies on the Hells Gates dam and Stage 2 of the Haughton Pipeline Duplication were both important.

“Townsville Enterprise is currently calling for full funding towards a list of federal priorities that have been endorsed by our five regional councils and the region’s business community,” she said.

“Stage 2 of the water pipeline is definitely our number one priority in our package … put forward to the Federal Government.

“While we acknowledge the debate between the prioritisation of Hells Gates dam and Stage 2 of the water pipeline, our position is unequivocal: we don’t just want one project, we want to secure commitments towards them all.”

She said Townsville Enterprise was working to ensure North Queensland got its “fair share” of funding.

“We have gained momentum since our Canberra delegation, where we spoke about the importance of the water pipeline Stage 2 to secure Townsville’s water supply, as well as the Hells Gates dam PATRICIA O’CALLAGHAN ( PICTURED) project to open up agricultural opportunities in what will be the largest dam in Queensland right on our backdoor step,” Ms O’Callaghan said.

“The Northern Australia Agenda sets out to not just fund studies, but to provide real investment into nation building projects that will set the direction for the develop- ment of the North.” She said the North Queensland community “always” needed to work hard to secure enough government funds for job creating projects.

“Our federal election package will be a step to achieve this, so let’s get those dollars flowing back into the region,” Ms O’Callaghan said.

Her comments come as calls to fund Stage 2 over Hells Gates from the Townsville City Council deepen the divide in the community on the issue of water security.

Mayor Jenny Hill has called on the Federal Government to keep $ 75 million promised to the city left over from the nowshelved Townsville Eastern Access Rail Corridor. Her renewed push prompted criticism from LNP Dawson MP George Christensen and candidate for Herbert Phillip Thompson, who have argued both projects should receive support.

Herbert Labor MP Cathy O’Toole this week stood up in Parliament to express her con- cern about Hells Gates being funded ahead of Stage 2, as it was not a viable water security solution for Townsville.

If it wins government, Labor has pledged $ 100 million to go towards the solution outlined in a highly anticipated report from the Townsville Water Security Taskforce, expected this month.