- The Palaszczuk Government has secured $4.5 million from the National Water Grid Fund to deliver a Central Queensland Regional Water Assessment (CQ RWA)
- CQ RWA will carefully assess regional water demand in Central Queensland and identify future water supply options
- Builds on the Palaszczuk Government's strong record of water infrastructure investment in Central Queensland, which includes the Rookwood Weir, the Fitzroy to Gladstone Pipeline and the Mount Morgan Pipeline
- This assessment is in addition to assessments underway in the Tablelands, Southern and Darling Downs, Bundaberg and Burnett, and the Burdekin regions
The Albanese and Palaszczuk Governments are working to together to ensure Queenslanders have safe, reliable and secure water in the future.
The Palaszczuk Government has secured $4.5 million from the National Water Grid Fund for a new Central Queensland Regional Water Assessment (CQ RWA).This is part of the $11.5 million Queensland has secured from the Commonwealth for collaborative strategic planning work across Queensland.
The regional water assessment will be delivered by the Palaszczuk Government and will look at infrastructure and non-infrastructure options in Central Queensland to unlock more water to meet future demand.
This important planning work builds upon major water infrastructure investment by the Palaszczuk Government including the $568.9 million Rookwood Weir project which reached construction completion this week, the Fitzroy to Gladstone Pipeline and Mount Morgan Pipeline projects which are currently underway.
The CQ RWA is part of the Palaszczuk Government's water infrastructure planning program being carried out across the state, with assessments also being undertaken for the Atherton Tablelands, Southern and Darling Downs, Bundaberg and Burnett, and the Burdekin region.
Where detailed business cases or other studies have been completed or are underway, the CQ RWA will seek to incorporate information from those projects, including the outcomes of the Dawson Valley Water Supply Scheme and the Nogoa Mackenzie Options Analysis processes funded by the National Water Grid Fund.
In addition to the RWA, work continues on the Detailed Business Case for a desalination plant in Gladstone, to supply water to the green hydrogen industry.
The CQ RWA will help inform future investment decisions on water projects in Central Queensland to drive economic growth and ensure water security well into the future.
As part of the assessment a working group comprising key water users and other stakeholders will be set up, to provide strategic guidance and ensure continued engagement with Central Queenslanders.
Quotes attributable to Minister for the Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek:
"Water is our most precious resource and it is an essential part of our everyday lives.
"We know many parts of Queensland are already in drought, with more to be declared in the coming months.
"Central Queensland is a huge producer across many industries, each of which employs local people.
"It's got a strong economy, with room to grow, and is home for many people.
"This strategic planning work is critical in ensuring we are planning for the future in this region and investing in projects that stack up economically."
Quotes attributable to the Queensland Minister for Water, Glenn Butcher:
"The Palaszczuk Government continues to deliver for the people of Central Queensland, this is best demonstrated by the recently completed Rookwood Weir and our investment in the Fitzroy to Gladstone Pipeline and the Mount Morgan Pipeline. These projects are part of the $5.2 billion we have invested in water infrastructure since 2015, creating 3400 jobs across the state.
"This Regional Water Assessment will be a careful look at the projects we need into the future. We know there will be more demand for urban, industrial and agricultural water into the future – so it's important that we are doing the necessary planning work now to meet that future demand.
"Water equals jobs and economic growth, so we will continue to do the planning and the leg-work necessary to get projects planned and delivered to meet future needs."
Quotes attributable to Member for Keppel, Brittany Lauga:
"With all the jobs and opportunities coming on the back of Rookwood, I'm proud to see the Palaszczuk and Albanese Government come together to plan for the future projects our region needs."
Quotes attributable to Member for Rockhampton, Barry O'Rourke:
"I'm pleased to see both levels of government working together to plan for the future water needs of this region. This planning work builds on the strong record of investment in water infrastructure by the Palaszczuk Government."
