Funding pours in for water storage

A STATE government commitment to help fund a 7000megalitre water bank project at Hughenden could transform the town into a horticultural hub, Flinders Shire Council says.

The $25.6m pledge, one of several regional water infrastructure projects to be funded over three years, was made as part of the government’s 2022-23 budget.

Flinders Mayor Jane Mcnamara said it was a fantastic result and a credit to all those involved in the Flinders Shire team, headed by CEO Hari Boppudi, over many years.

She said the news would be dear to the heart of Gavin “Bones” Dennis, who had been strongly involved in initial planning but died in 2020.

Cr Mcnamara said the funding would help the council establish the off-stream water storage and distribution system as a first stage in supporting the development and expansion of irrigated agriculture and industry infrastructure.

“It is a significant contribution from the state government, which provides 50 per cent of the total project costs, and gives us confidence that the remaining funding required from the federal government will be achieved,” she said.

Cr Mcnamara said the council’s goal was to double the shire’s population to 3000 residents by 2030 and water security was critical to achieving this goal.

“This funding helps to materialise council’s vision of 1000 jobs in 1000 days,” she said.

“This project will continue the expansion of the horticultural projects in the Flinders Shire, and enable an additional four to five high-value horticultural farms to be developed in the area.”