ANGER GROWS OVER WATER
IT HAS BEEN ALMOST 15 YEARS SINCE QUEENSLAND’S LAST DAM WAS COMPLETED, AND AS DROUGHT CONDITIONS PERSIST ACROSS THE STATE, SO TOO DO THE POLITICAL BATTLES OVER FUNDING, WRITES
STEVEN SCOTT.
believe but he says one thing is for certain – the option of him trying to access the water won’t be there. It will be too far from his property.
The battle over Rookwood Weir is not unique. Queensland’s recent history of regional dam building is one of changes, delays and broken promises.
The last major water infrastructure project dam built in the state, Paradise Dam, was completed in 2005.
Since then, a controversial plan pushed by the former Beattie government to dam the Mary River at Traveston Crossing near Gympie had to be abandoned after it was overruled by then federal environment minister Peter Garrett in 2009 because of its impact on threatened species.
Around the same time, Mr Beattie pledged the Rookwood Weir would be built by 2011.
The project has since gone through repeated changes. Both the federal and state governments committed and recommitted to providing portions of the funding but have clashed every step of the way.
Even without taking account of Picture: MATT TAYLOR the funding disputes, the project was not without controversy.
In July last year, Infrastructure Australia warned the costs were likely to exceed benefits and that the weir would deliver more water than needed.
FARMERS INFURIATED
This month, the State Government released expressions of interest for a reduced-capacity weir.
Farmers fear the capacity will be slashed from 76,000ML to 54,000ML a year. Full hydrological modelling is yet to be completed but Queensland’s Natural Resources Minister Anthony Lynham says it could yield up to 72,000ML a year with farmers to get up to 38,000ML.
The dispute has infuriated farmers around Rockhampton.
“There is no questioning the value of water, especially now. It is dustbowl dry out here,” Agforce chief Mike Guerin says.
“The people of Central Queensland, who were not consulted before the Government decided to reduce the capacity of Rookwood Weir, are rightly worried about the impact on their livelihoods and their communities.”
The future of the project, which sits in marginal state and federal seats, has become a symbol of a political contest over the bush.
Queensland Opposition leader Deb Frecklington says the changes to the project show the Government is ignoring the needs of the regions.
“Labor’s watering down of Rookwood Weir will mean less jobs for Central Queensland,” Ms Frecklington says.
“Labor haven’t reduced the length of Cross River Rail because of concrete costs and they shouldn’t only be building part of the weir.”
Dr Lynham says that the Government is building Rookwood Weir but