Published Thursday, 03 July, 2008 at 04:10 PM
JOINT STATEMENT
Minister for Natural Resources and Water and Minister Assisting the Premier in North Queensland
The Honourable Craig Wallace
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
QUEENSLAND WELCOMES $510 MILLION MURRAY DARLING WATER BOOST
Premier Anna Bligh and Water Minister Craig Wallace today welcomed Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s announcement that up to $510 million will be provided for the purchase of water entitlements and to improve water use efficiency in the Queensland section of the Murray-Darling Basin.
“Queensland has been a winner on and off the field this week, with this agreement giving the Murray Darling a lifeline and our irrigators job security.
“This is yet another example of the Bligh Government using our good relationship with Kevin Rudd to ensure a better deal for Queenslanders,” Ms Bligh said.
The announcement was made at the Council of Australian Governments’ (COAG) meeting in Sydney where the Premier Bligh also signed a new Intergovernmental Agreement to strengthen the sustainability and efficiency of water management in the Murray-Darling Basin.
Premier Bligh said Commonwealth funds would be allocated to Queensland’s “Healthy HeadWaters” project, which will now be further refined by the Commonwealth and Queensland Governments in consultation with industry and the community in the region.
In particular, the Commonwealth wishes to undertake “due diligence” assessments of the various elements of the project.
“The project would deliver long lasting benefits to Murray-Darling Basin communities in Queensland by assisting the irrigation industry to be well positioned for the effects of climate change and reduced water availability,’’ Ms Bligh said.
The funding will be provided over 10 years under the Commonwealth Water for the Future program.
“Around $115 million will go towards assisting irrigators to further improve their water efficiency measures. This new funding will greatly improve the work irrigators, and industry groups, can do to lower their on-farm water use and also provide environmental benefits.
Up to $350 million will go on voluntary buy backs of water.
“These funds will also help pave the way for a greater interest in the buy-back process for entitlement holders looking to voluntarily sell water back into the system for downstream environmental purposes.’’
Mr Wallace said: “The Queensland Government has considerable experience in supporting irrigators through water use efficiency initiatives, in particular the work that has been done for the CRC Irrigation Futures project.”
“I look forward to working with peak bodies such as the Queensland Farmers’ Federation and the irrigation community in the basin to develop programs to ensure these funds are put to their best use.”
The Healthy HeadWaters project has two major components: to focus on planning-based infrastructure investment to improve water use efficiency for Queensland irrigators and SunWater operations; and funding to buy back water entitlements from entitlement holders.
Mr Wallace said the northern end of the Murray Darling Basin was unique in terms of ephemeral streams, minimal infrastructure and less reliable inflows.
“This is why it is essential that funding of this magnitude has been allocated to ensure the irrigation industry can continue and the environment is protected,” he said.
In addition to the Commonwealth allocating funds to buy back water access entitlements from willing sellers, the overall Healthy HeadWaters program will deliver to Queensland:
$105 million for community level irrigation planning and subsequent infrastructure investment;
$40 million for upgrading SunWater’s delivery system infrastructure;
$5 million for a detailed feasibility study to examine the use of coal seam gas water; and
Mr Wallace said the Bligh Government was committed to working with both the Australian Government and the irrigation industry to build the details of the Healthy HeadWaters project.
Thursday July 3, 2008
Media contact:
Premier’s Office – 3224 4500
Minister’s Office - 38963688
“Queensland has been a winner on and off the field this week, with this agreement giving the Murray Darling a lifeline and our irrigators job security.
“This is yet another example of the Bligh Government using our good relationship with Kevin Rudd to ensure a better deal for Queenslanders,” Ms Bligh said.
The announcement was made at the Council of Australian Governments’ (COAG) meeting in Sydney where the Premier Bligh also signed a new Intergovernmental Agreement to strengthen the sustainability and efficiency of water management in the Murray-Darling Basin.
Premier Bligh said Commonwealth funds would be allocated to Queensland’s “Healthy HeadWaters” project, which will now be further refined by the Commonwealth and Queensland Governments in consultation with industry and the community in the region.
In particular, the Commonwealth wishes to undertake “due diligence” assessments of the various elements of the project.
“The project would deliver long lasting benefits to Murray-Darling Basin communities in Queensland by assisting the irrigation industry to be well positioned for the effects of climate change and reduced water availability,’’ Ms Bligh said.
The funding will be provided over 10 years under the Commonwealth Water for the Future program.
“Around $115 million will go towards assisting irrigators to further improve their water efficiency measures. This new funding will greatly improve the work irrigators, and industry groups, can do to lower their on-farm water use and also provide environmental benefits.
Up to $350 million will go on voluntary buy backs of water.
“These funds will also help pave the way for a greater interest in the buy-back process for entitlement holders looking to voluntarily sell water back into the system for downstream environmental purposes.’’
Mr Wallace said: “The Queensland Government has considerable experience in supporting irrigators through water use efficiency initiatives, in particular the work that has been done for the CRC Irrigation Futures project.”
“I look forward to working with peak bodies such as the Queensland Farmers’ Federation and the irrigation community in the basin to develop programs to ensure these funds are put to their best use.”
The Healthy HeadWaters project has two major components: to focus on planning-based infrastructure investment to improve water use efficiency for Queensland irrigators and SunWater operations; and funding to buy back water entitlements from entitlement holders.
Mr Wallace said the northern end of the Murray Darling Basin was unique in terms of ephemeral streams, minimal infrastructure and less reliable inflows.
“This is why it is essential that funding of this magnitude has been allocated to ensure the irrigation industry can continue and the environment is protected,” he said.
In addition to the Commonwealth allocating funds to buy back water access entitlements from willing sellers, the overall Healthy HeadWaters program will deliver to Queensland:
$105 million for community level irrigation planning and subsequent infrastructure investment;
$40 million for upgrading SunWater’s delivery system infrastructure;
$5 million for a detailed feasibility study to examine the use of coal seam gas water; and
Mr Wallace said the Bligh Government was committed to working with both the Australian Government and the irrigation industry to build the details of the Healthy HeadWaters project.
Thursday July 3, 2008
Media contact:
Premier’s Office – 3224 4500
Minister’s Office - 38963688