KINGAROY, UPPER BURNETT AND BOYNE RIVER FARMERS GET BOOST TO ALLOCATIONS

Kingaroy, Upper Burnett and Boyne River farmers have plenty of reasons to smile today with SunWater’s announcement of major increases in their water allocations thanks to recent wet weather across the region.

Water Minister Craig Wallace said he was pleased the region had finally witnessed some good drenching rainfall and that Bjelke-Petersen and Boondooma dams, along with Burnett River weirs, were now back to much healthier levels after such a long dry spell.

The increases in allocations are:

Upper Burnett Water Supply Scheme

Wuruma-Kirar: High Priority 100% (previously 71%), Medium Priority 29% (before 0%)

Jones: High Priority 100% (unchanged), Medium Priority 42% (previously 0%)

Claude Wharton: High Priority 100% (unchanged), Medium Priority 88% (before 0%)

John Goleby: Medium Priority 100% (previously 29%)

Barker Barambah Water Supply Scheme

High Priority 100% (unchanged), Medium Priority 46% (previously 0%)

Boyne and Tarong Water Supply Scheme

High Priority 100% (previously 66%), Medium Priority 80% (previously 0%)

“SunWater has advised me that the downpours across the region have gone some way in replenishing our dams - they are not full but are in much better shape than a few weeks ago and our farmers can now look to the future with some renewed confidence,” Mr Wallace said.

“We only have to look at how Bjelke-Petersen Dam has gone from virtually empty to 18% and Boondooma Dam from 13% to 52% in under two weeks, to really appreciate the impact this recent wet weather has had.

“I am particularly pleased that inflows into Bjelke-Petersen and Boondooma dams and the Burnett River, have been enough to remove the Critical Water Sharing Arrangements that were in place to extend supplies for as long as possible

“In some cases, this is the first time our farmers have had access to water supply for more than a year so there’s no doubt plenty of people will be very happy to finally say goodbye to restrictions after living under the shadow of drought for so long.

“It’s no secret that farmers in these regions have done it very tough, so it’s great news to see they’ve finally been given some reprieve,” Mr Wallace said.

SunWater will be advising all water users of the increases by correspondence during the next few days.

Dam Levels at 18/02/08

Paradise Dam – 41% and holding 125,000 megalitres (ML)

Fred Haigh Dam – 37% and holding 208,000ML

Bjelke-Petersen Dam – 17.9% and holding 24,000ML

Boondooma Dam – 52% and holding 106,000ML

Media contact: Paul Childs, Craig Wallace’s office, on 0407 131 654.