WATER FOR BOWEN PROJECT MOVING AHEAD, SAYS WALLACE

The Water for Bowen project is moving ahead and will allow the Bowen Basin to produce more food if food production declines in other parts of Australia, Minister Representing the Premier in North Queensland Craig Wallace said today.

Mr Wallace said SunWater was scheduled to release the Draft Terms of Reference for the Environmental Impact Statement late this month or early next month.

An information session was held in Bowen this morning to brief foundation members, who have made a financial contribution to the project, on the scheme’s progress.

“Due to climate change, Queensland’s north will be increasingly called on to produce more food,” he said.

“The extra 60,000 million litres of water delivered by the Water for Bowen project could help the BowenBasin ‘step up to the plate’ and become one of the nation’s leading food bowls,” he said.

Water for Bowen Stage Two involves detailed engineering as well as an environmental impact assessment of the project. This will also involve finalising the water corridor options.

“Last year, the State Government contributed $1.5 million towards completion of feasibility studies. SunWater matched this contribution and future users of the water in the area, including local agricultural firms, Ports Corporation and the Bowen Shire Council, contributed about $700,000.

“Since then, the Queensland Government has committed a further $1 million to the project. If studies show the project stacks up, it has the potential to boost employment across the region and address the drift of people away from the bush.

“If construction starts in 2008, farmers, industry and miners could benefit from this project as early as the end of 2010.”

The project consists of about 130kms of open channel and pipeline from Clare Weir on the Burdekin River to the Bowen region, a reticulation pipeline system, pump stations and balancing storages.

It was identified as a priority water infrastructure project for the region in The First 100-days policy statements following the 2006 State election. It was also identified in the Queensland Government’s Blueprint for the Bush program.

“The project plans to supply approximately 60,000 million litres of water for industrial and agricultural uses by taking advantage of a water transport system stretching south from the Burdekin River to the coastal plains of Bowen,” he said.

“The region is experiencing depleted groundwater which apart from the potential for environmental harm is impacting on industrial expansion around the port at Abbot Point and threatening existing and future horticultural, aqua cultural and intensive livestock expansion projects in Inkerman, Gumlu and Guthalungra.’’

Mr Wallace said new water supplies would help shore up and expand the region’s horticultural future.

It also would enable industrial growth around the Port of Abbot Point, where a total throughput of 12,794,010 tonnes of coal was handled in 2004-05.

“This project also has the ability to supply water to nurture the Whitsunday tourism potential,’’ Mr Wallace said.

Media inquiries: Paul Childs, Craig Wallace’s office, 0417 131 654.