NO MORE STALLING
LNP under fire after calling for another water study
THE LNP has been slammed for demanding “another study” before it considers funding the second stage of a pipeline designed to deliver water security to Townsville.
After 18 months of research and consultation the Townsville Water Security Taskforce has recommended construction of Stage 2 of the Haughton Pipeline duplication as the best option to secure Townsville’s water supply.
LNP candidate for Herbert Phillip Thompson welcomed the report but said it was now up to the Townsville City Council and State Government to prepare a business case for the Federal Government to consider.
“I 100 per cent support long term water security for Townsville,” he said.
Taskforce chair Brad Webb presented his final report to Queensland Natural Resources, Mines and Energy Minister Anthony Lynham, Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill and a Commonwealth representative in Brisbane yesterday.
The Bulletin can reveal constructing Stages 1 and 2 concurrently would result in a saving of about $ 55 million.
According to the final report the cost of building Stage 2 separately would be about $ 190 million but if it was immediately funded this could be reduced to about $ 136 million, not including contingencies.
The capital saving would be delivered in part due to upgrades planned for the existing pump stations at Haughton and Clare for Stage 1 no longer being required.
Stage 2 would include the construction of a new solarpowered pump station at Clare to supply the new pipeline.
Cr Hill said that Mr Thompson’s calls for a business case contradicted a “binding commitment” to water security in the Townsville City Deal agreement between all three levels of government.
“The Townsville Water Security Taskforce was a key plank of the City Deal … and its mandate was to investigate short, medium and long- term solutions to ensure our community had a guaranteed future water supply,” Cr Hill said.
“The findings of the taskforce final report need to be acknowledged and progressed by all levels of government … instead Mr Thompson wants another study before acting to secure our city’s water supply.’’
Herbert Labor MP Cathy O’Toole said there was no need for any further studies into the issue.
“Townsville residents are absolutely fed up with business cases and reviews in relation to water security,” she said.
“The residents of Townsville have been very vocal on the fact that we do not want any more money wasted on reports, reviews or business cases, we simply want the second stage of the pipeline constructed.”
Labor has already committed $ 100 million to the taskforce’s recommended course of action.
“Under a Shorten- led Labor government, we will deliver Stage 2 of the Haughton Pipeline in our first term,” she said.
TOWNSVILLE RESIDENTS ARE ABSOLUTELY FED UP WITH BUSINESS CASES AND REVIEWS IN RELATION TO WATER SECURITY. CATHY O’TOOLE