SUPPORT BURDEKIN OPTION
In John Andersen’s column on Saturday former federal member Ewen Jones said he could see no reason to build the Burdekin Dam to its full design height. Perhaps he was unaware that after completion the dam would become the biggest battery in the north of the state. At a crucial time when we need more environmentally sustainable energy the project would deliver 500 megawatts of hydro and 1000 megawatts of pumped storage hydro.there are other significant benefits. Raising the height would allow water to be gravity fed to Townsville avoiding the need for ratepayers to pay the high cost of pumping. Burdekin Farmers don’t miss out either. Their water entitlements would be protected and there is a plan that their water charges would be reduced. More water used from the dam should result in lower average prices for all customers (new and existing). So everyone wins!
When the dam was originally constructed our forefathers had the good sense to acquire all the land needed for full capacity and to build the saddle dams that would eventually be needed. So everything is already in place to proceed with raising the wall by 14.6 metres to its full design height. By storing 17 Sydney Harbours of water,
Burdekin Falls Dam Stage 2 will protect Townsville, Cane Growers and many others from the inevitable droughts that plague Australia.
Now we have the Queensland Government proposing to raise the Burdekin Dam wall by only 2 metres. This would ruin the Burdekin Dam’s potential forever because the wall could not then be raised to the full height. That would be a travesty. There is widespread community support in Townsville for immediate construction of Burdekin Falls Dam Stage 2. The Burdekin Dam is a critical national asset that must be brought to its full potential. The early completion of BFD2 is a once in a lifetime opportunity for North Queenslanders to finally complete the foundations for the wellbeing of future generations of North Queenslanders – long after people reading this have passed on.
PETER LINDSAY
Annandale