By Melissa Coleman
Stanthorpe locals, fruit and vegetable industry growers and business owners are fed up with the on and off again stance of the government when it comes to solving the major water security problems of the town.
Recently the Palaszczuk Government moved the Granite Belt Irrigation Project, which includes Emu Swamp Dam, into the Southern and Darling Downs Regional Water Assessment (RWA) program.
But while the RWA program provides both a process and a stakeholder forum in which to confirm the Granite Belt’s future water needs and explore the merits of any alternative options, it may delay the process further, and time is not a luxury the town has.
Since October 2021, Granite Belt Water, including residents of the township, have been waiting for the government to make a decision to fund the construction of the dam.
The Queensland government is yet to request funding from the Australian government’s National Water Infrastructure Fund to contribute toward the construction of the project, despite the Australian Government having more than $168 million allocated funds toward the venture.
“We know all the terrible things that happen in drought; animals are put down, people can’t shower, and sports clubs have to get donations to be able to water their grounds,“ said president of the Growers Association, Nathan Baronio.
“Under the RWA, such considerations as a pipeline from Toowoomba to Warwick, evaporation covers, and the consideration of a pipeline from Warwick to Stanthorpe are assessed by a strategic advisory committee, a report is made up, and the report goes to the Government,” Mr Baronio said.
“Of all the ideas that are being considered, not one of them brings additional water to industry.
“Emu Swamp Dam is the only option that will bring water to the largest employers of workers, full-time, part-time and casual, in the Granite Belt,” he said.
Member for the Southern Downs James Lister MP said the much talked about $300 million pipeline from Toowoomba to Warwick isn’t the answer.
“Besides the pipeline going to the wrong town, water pumped from someone else’s scarce supply isn’t really secure water, is it?”
“The Morrison federal government committed $165 million towards building Emu Swamp Dam and the associated distribution pipelines, but this funding was cut in the October budget by the new federal government,” Mr Lister said.
“The federal and state environmental approvals have been granted, and so have the cultural heritage approvals based on an agreement with the traditional owners of the areas around Emu Swamp.
“These are remarkable achievements, which risk expiry if the Palaszczuk government doesn’t step up and agree to build the dam now. We just can’t afford to be sent back to the drawing board yet again!
“Emu Swamp Dam is the only viable way to get new water to the town and to our farmers,” he said.
During the last drought, the Palaszczuk Government paid to cart water to Stanthorpe when Storm King Dam ran dry; they invested more than $19 million through the Southern Downs Drought Resilience Package and committed to building the Toowoomba to Warwick pipeline, but community members are far from confident when it comes to the unforeseen wrath of mother nature.
“This process will delay the building of Emu Swamp Dam. The detailed business case is done. Granite Belt Water was ready to build,” Mr Boronio said.
“The process might delay it six months or 12 months; god forbid it might delay it two years.
“We need the RWA to come to the conclusion that Emu Swamp Dam is number one and the Queensland government to accept, ratify and push the project through in six months,” he said.
Granite Belt Water is a facilitator of the development of infrastructure for the Granite Belt and Stanthorpe.
Chief Executive of Granite Belt Water Lloyd Taylor said the original cost was for an irrigation scheme only.
“We completed the detailed business case back in 2018. In 2019, the Minister agreed that a key decision and hold point needed to be built into the project development case. That hold point was reached in October 2021, and we’ve been waiting for a decision from the government as to whether they want to construct or fund.
“Since that time, as everyone knows, there has been a hyper escalation of construction costs throughout Australia, so it becomes a salacious argument to say the price has increased,” Mr Taylor said.
“Every project has increased significantly. We’ve had all the effects of Covid, all the international supply chain issues and the timeliness of government decision-making.”
“Importantly, the costs also relate to the supply of additional water to Stanthorpe.”
“In 2018, the cost was different, but we are now talking about the end of 2022.”
“The only decision the government has made is to further review it,” Mr Taylor said.
The Granite Belt’s community and economy is fortified by agriculture and grows food valued at $200-$300 million annually.
With an absence of reliable water, the Granite Belt’s food bowl, which nourishes South East Australia over summer months, could be non-existent, increasing the already high cost of living.
