Funds for pipeline must flow

LET’S be very clear about the next stage of the Haughton pipeline project.

Now that the Townsville Water Security Taskforce has given its final report to all tiers of government, the recommendations should be adopted.

The most significant recommendation in that report is that the second stage of the pipeline should be completed at the same time as stage one, which is already under way.

Doing so will mean a saving of more than $ 50 million.

It will give Townsville water security for 50 to 60 years. It’s a no- brainer.

So now we are calling on the Federal Government to commit to funding this key piece of water security infrastructure so it can be designed and built straight away.

The next step is absolutely not to do a business case.

This project does not need a business case.

It doesn’t need another report or review.

The Townsville Water Security Taskforce was put in place to assess all the reviews that have already been done and to recommend the best way forward.

This city’s residents are passionate about water security. It is the top issue in Townsville. Labor, even before it was handed the taskforce report, committed $ 100 million to its honour its findings, should Bill Shorten be elected.

The Federal Government, while it understandably deserves some time to read and digest this report, does not need to ask for another report, as a stalling tactic.

The Townsville public is sick of report after report, with no follow- up action.

Once it understands the report findings, the Federal Government needs to come out strongly in support of it by putting its money where its mouth is and agreeing to fund the second stage of this pipeline.

The community needs this project to progress.