Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett said this morning’s announcement regarding the lowering of the Paradise Dam Spillway is an absolute disaster.
Mr Bennett said it’s a bitter blow to our regional economy and the future of high value irrigated agriculture.
“My phone has not stopped this morning, farmers are not just angry, they’re calling me up in tears asking if there’s anything that can be done to stop this,” he said.
“It is devastating that the Government can decide to lower the water capacity of Paradise Dam after spending so much on repairs since the floods in 2011 and 2013.
“The risks to agriculture investment are serious as this region has based its future of security of water supply.
“The proposal to lower the dam wall by 5 meters is based on a ridiculous new safety standard that has appeared and is now being used to justify and perverse outcome.
“This Labor Government is treating our farmers like second class citizens by pretending this is a ‘good news story’ with remarks like free water.
“Every irrigator has meters attached to water, so all water used will be billed
“Not only are Labor failing to build new dams they’re actively reducing the size of existing dams that give us some much needed water security.
“Farmers have told me this morning that they’d rather continue to pay for their water than have no water security.
“They’re terrified, and rightly so.
“Make no mistake this is not the end of the lowering of the wall at Paradise Dam, we know that once the levels have been reduced, further assessments will be undertaken, effectively paving the way for the Labor Government to lower the wall to their preferred height, lower by 17meters.
“I cannot believe in the middle of the worst drought in years the Palaszczuk Government would be progressing with damaging water security.
“We know they can fix the wall, yes it’s expensive, but isn’t it worth it? It’s the future of our farmers, our crops, our livestock and our drinking water worth it?
“There’s nothing more vital than water security in Queensland and Labor’s policies are literally bleeding our regions dry.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk is failing to plan for the future and deliver the water security our communities need.
“Additionally if this is a structural issue, there is Federal Government money available through the National Water Infrastructure Loan Facility so my message to the Government is; apply for the money and fix the wall.
24/09/19