AFTER months of planning by the Flinders and Richmond Shires for the Flinders Water Forum last week, Minister for Natural Resources and Water, Craig Wallace failed to turn up.
With no excuse or apology given, Mr Wallace became a “no-show” which was viewed by attendees as both an insult and an indication of the State Government’s attitude toward North and North West Queensland.
The forum, held from November 17 to 19, was staged to assist potential irrigators on crop and equipment choices and to relay information on the potential for irrigation from the 80,000ML allocated to the Flinders River in the State Government’s proposed Draft Water Resource Operations Plan.
Buoyed by the allocation, the Flinders and Richmond Shires had hoped to get some indication from the DNR minister of whether the Mount Beckford Dam project (Flinders Shire) and the O’Connell Creek water storage (Richmond Shire) would be given the green light.
The Etheridge Shire also sent a lobby group to talk to the Minister about a possible 1.3 million megalitre dam on the Gilbert River at Green Hills.
DNR officers, Nigel Kelly, Regional Manager, Water Resources, Robert Dick, Strategic Water Initiatives, and Kev Allan, Rural Leasehold and Vegetation Management, spoke only of strategies and projects being undertaken by their relevant sections but which had no bearing on the feasibility of the above mentioned water storage projects.
John Wharton, Mayor of Richmond Shire, asked when the DNR was going give a straight forward answer on whether the storages could be built and to stop calling for more studies and investigations to be done when all required protocols have been completed.
Flinders Shire Mayor, Brendan McNamara, said after all the engineering surveys, river flow rate measurements, soil testing in both the catchment and the target irrigation areas, and everything the government has asked for having been completed, he wondered what it would take to convince the government to look favourably on the Mount Beckford project.
He said that while the Forum had provided irrigators with a greater knowledge of what is required to implement best practice irrigation techniques, and the possible crops able to be grown in the area, the frustrations could not be ignored.
“The next steps are for us to review the proposals made by the Gulf Water Resources Plan and Gulf Water Operations Plan and encourage and support local irrigators to apply for the 80,000ML of available water,” Mr McNamara said.
He said this will go some way to proving there is demand for irrigation water in the region and strengthen the region’s case for a dam.
“In addition to this, Council will also update data included in a study of the economic and social benefits and the flow-on effect of irrigation development in the Upper Flinders Region that was originally conducted in 2004.”
Mr McNamara said the flow-on benefits from the construction of Mount Beckford dam would include an increase in tourism and provide fishing and recreational activities for the community.
Presenting the case for the Green Hills project on the Gilbert River, Rob Macalister, CEO Gulf Savannah Development, said that although the government had already said “no” to the project, it should understand that the dam had the potential to irrigate 28,000ha within 5km either side of the river.
He said it would lift national productivity and had the benefit of being within easy reach of the port at Karumba and therefore the Asian food market.
Although frustrated at the lack of any decision on the projects or indication from the Government on the situation, attendees were presented with substantial information on which crops would best suit different soil types.
They also heard about the best forms of irrigation, surface or overhead, for the variety of soil types in the target areas.
With more than 50 potential irrigators attending the forum, many locals believe it is likely the 80,000ML allocation from the Flinders River already in place will all be taken up in short time even if it means direct pumping from the river to on-farm storage.
A spokesperson for Minister Wallace said the Minister was disappointed he couldn't attend the event but due to the unconfirmed dates of the COAG and Cabinet meetings that week it was determined that it was best to decline the invitation to avoid any inconvenience to the organisation.
The spokesperson said the Minister extended his apologies to the event organisers.
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