Burdekin dam work on verge of collapse

A THREE-PRONGED project to improve Queensland’s largest dam has ground to a near halt, with a new report revealing a significant business case was two years overdue.

The State Governmentfunded Burdekin Falls Dam improvement project was due to be completed by next year, but Building Queensland’s latest Infrastructure Report revealed the business case for the $136 million project had been delayed until late 2020.

This is despite the 2017 edition of the same report stating the business case should have been completed by late last year.

Opposition state development spokesman Andrew Powell said the report proved North Queensland infrastructure was “simply not a priority” for the State Government.

Natural Resources Minister Dr Anthony Lynham, when asked by the Townsville Bulletin, did not specify the cause of the delay but said: “The bottom line will always be that projects must be viable, economically feasible and provide value for money for all Queensland taxpayers.

“This is a process that must not be rushed.”

The improvement works were meant to ensure the dam continued to meet “best practice standards”.

The Government has committed to three “interdependent” projects for the Burdekin Falls Dam, which includes raising the dam wall, the improvement works and the hydro-electricity plan.

The Townsville Bulletin previously revealed the business case into raising the dam wall was months past its original deadline, the end of 2018.

Dr Lynham said this report had now been finalised, though no reason has been given for this delay either.

“Once the preliminary business case has been reviewed, a decision will be made as to whether to proceed with a detailed business case,” he said.

“(The Government) consider raising the wall of the Burdekin Falls Dam being the best option for further ensuring water security for North Queensland.”

Meanwhile, the $100 million previously allocated to the Burdekin Falls Dam hydroelectric power station project has been reallocated to the State Government’s clean energy generator Cleanco pending “further consideration of the project”.

Burdekin MP Dale Last said the money for the hydro power project must be spent in North Queensland even if the station did not go ahead.