DAM GOOD NEWS FOR BOWEN FARMERS

There was some massive news for our neighbours south of Townsville yesterday with the federal government launching a business case into a 105km underground pipeline from the Burdekin River to Bowen.

The idea is to provide water security for the farmers in that area and along the way open up 40,000 extra hectares of land for farming.

Through the National Water Grid Fund, the government will fully fund investigations into the future construction of a new pipeline from the Burdekin River to Bowen, and new or upgraded infrastructure for the Burdekin Haughton Water Supply Scheme.

As you can imagine farmers in the region were ecstatic.

Bowen Gumlu Growers Association president Carl Walker said a secure water supply would be a game changer for the region.

“With the way the weather is, every year can be a failure – there’s no such thing as a ‘ normal’ year any more. so it’s very important we underpin our longevity with secure water,” Mr Walker said.

The move makes a lot of sense...

“For Bowen and Gumlu, our industry is worth about $500 million in gate sales, so every 10 per cent you cannot grow because you haven’t got water, it’s $50 million.

The move makes a lot of sense, there is a good supply of water in the Burdekin Falls Dam that’s not being used that could be used to grow North Queensland.

It’s a plan that has been talked about for more than 40 years and this move could see construction start in 2023. Hopefully this is just the start of more water projects for North Queensland.

The sooner other projects like Hells Gates Dam are moved on the better for all North Queensland residents.