Premium washdown facility opens in Chinchilla

The Western Downs community will benefit from improved weed management after a new multi-million dollar washdown bay officially opened in Chinchilla.

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney said opening the premium facility marked 14 months of work by Western Downs Regional Council to deliver the Round 1 Royalties for the Regions project.

“This important infrastructure project will reduce the risk of weeds and seeds spreading in the Western Downs region and I am pleased it is now officially open to the community,” Mr Seeney said.

“Our government provided $700,000 from Royalties for the Regions for this project and it would not have been delivered without co-contributions from Western Downs Regional Council of $586,313, QGC - $600,000, Powerlink - $108,000 and a sum from the Federal Government.

“We promised to deliver better infrastructure and better planning and the Royalties for the Regions program has provided more than $25 million to the Western Downs community for new infrastructure.

“In contrast, Labor ignored the regions and still has no plan to improve funding or provide the necessary infrastructure the Surat Basin needs to continue to grow.”

Western Downs Regional Council Mayor Ray Brown said the washdown facility would help to safeguard his region’s biosecurity.

“Agriculture is a vital part of our local community, contributing greatly to community life and ensuring a vibrant and diverse regional economy,” Mr Brown said.

“Weeds that could endanger the viability of the agricultural sector are readily spread by vehicle and machinery movement, which has increased substantially as a result of resource sector activity.

“The spread of weeds throughout the Chinchilla area has the potential to devastate local primary production and hamper resource development and landholders have told us that this is a real concern for them.

“We expect that this facility will be well utilised by operators of heavy plant and machinery, especially those associated with the resource industry.

“The new facility will help protect both the region’s biodiversity and agriculture sector and ensure the rich and diverse community life in Chinchilla will continue well into the future.”

For more information visit http://www.qld.gov.au/royalties

[ENDS] 30 May 2014

Media Contact: Jane Paterson 0417 281 754 or Elizabeth Spry 0418 928 744