GOVT MOVES ON STANWELL - GLADSTONE INFRASTRUCTURE CORRIDOR

The Beattie Government has started the process to acquire an 88km infrastructure corridor betweenStanwelll near Rockhampton andand Gladstone to aid the provision of services and industrial development in the future.

Deputy Premier Anna Bligh said the Coordinator-General had identified the need for a multi-user infrastructure corridor for below ground pipelines and other suitable below ground infrastructure, such as telecommunication cables.

Ms Bligh said anticipated uses of the corridor are underground pipelines carrying water, gas, slurry and communications cables.

“Generally speaking it is envisaged this corridor will be about 100 metres wide from the StanwellEnergyPark near Rockhampton to north west boundary of the Gladstone State Development Area.

“Letters are now being sent to more than 75 landowners to discuss in most cases the acquisition of an easement.” The Coordinator-General staff will discuss the proposal directly with affected landowners.

Ms Bligh said the creation of the corridor was about planning for the future.

“Providing a route available for service providers and industry should save time and be a cost effective alternative to identifying a dedicate route for a project. A multi-user corridor should also reduce the inconvenience to landowners when routes are sourced on a project by project basis ” she said.

“The securing and protection of strategic multi-user infrastructure corridors throughout the State and facilitated access to these corridors for project proponents and infrastructure providers will enhance the competitiveness of the State’s economic centres.

”This project, should it proceed, will have benefits for both the Rockhampton and Gladstone regions, as it will enable business and industry in Rockhampton and Gladstone region to use the corridor to transport materials between these major regional areas. The corridor is expected to be available for use in 2008.””

Ms Bligh said the first customer is likely to be the Gladstone Area Water Board which is proposing to transport water from the FitzroyRiver via a pipeline to Gladstone.

She said the augmentation of Gladstone’s water supply and the associated pipeline is part of the Government’s Statewide Water Policy.

22 November 2006

Media Contact: Deputy Premier’s Office – 3224 6900