The Federal Government has locked in $483 million to build the Urannah Dam in the Broken River Valley in Central Queensland.
The announcement comes more than four decades after Urannah Dam, 80 kilometres north-west of Mackay, was identified as a potential water source that would provide water security for agriculture, industry and mines in the region.
The proposed 970-gigalitre dam and approximately 200-kilometre pipeline network could unlock 103-gigalitres of water, enabling local producers to develop up to 20,000 hectares of irrigated agriculture.
The water distribution network includes in-stream distribution in the Bowen and Broken Rivers to the Bowen River Weir, a new 66-kilometre pipeline north to the Peter Faust Dam, a new 17 km pipeline south east to the Eungella Dam and a 150 km pipeline south to Moranbah.
The project could create up to 1200 jobs during construction and support 650 ongoing positions.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Barnaby Joyce said the project would provide a viable water source to support 30 active projects and 71 new local projects in Central and North Queensland.
“This [project] will deliver the wealth and new opportunities that will underpin a better standard of living in the regional towns and communities of Central and North Queensland,” he said.
The Queensland Government had supported the project, but is yet to commit any funding, while the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has not been assessed by the state government yet.
While noting the cash injection from federal government would cover half the cost of construction for the dam, Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said while the state government “claimed to support the project, it has so far failed to commit to any funding.”
Federal Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry said the 50 per cent funding commitment from the federal government reinforced regional and rural communities.
“It is time for the Queensland Labor Government to step up and commit the other 50 per cent of funding to this vital project,” he said.
Last month, a bilateral agreement was signed between the Queensland and Federal governments to progress the project.
The Queensland State Government has previously made an application for funding on behalf of the Bowen River Utilities in June 2021. But progress on the project is still resting on the approval of both the EIS and business case.
The business case is underway and is expected to be completed later this year.
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