McNamara’s dream distraction from Traveston dam nightmare
5th February, 2009
State Member for Hervey Bay, Andrew McNamara, has outlined a dream of distraction to secure Hervey Bay’s water supply that is unlikely to ever be realised, Federal Member for Wide Bay Warren Truss said today.“Mr McNamara’s proposals all involve taking water from other areas and delivering it to Hervey Bay. Perhaps he should ask those having their water diverted whether they will agree? The desalination plant Mr McNamara proposes for Craignish is conveniently outside of his electorate. The Mary River barrage that would be removed is outside of his electorate. The three dams that he proposes to construct are outside of Hervey Bay. The pipelines would take water from communities outside of Hervey Bay,” Mr Truss said.
Local cane farmers would also lose their water entitlements should the barrage be removed, and Bundaberg district farm water supplies would be compromised should Paradise Dam be relied upon to supply water to Hervey Bay.
“In the same way that the proposed Traveston Crossing dam steals water from the Mary Valley to supply Brisbane, Mr McNamara is proposing to take water away from farmers who rely on the barrage to irrigate their crops, to supply households in Hervey Bay,” Mr Truss said.
“Mr McNamara’s water dream is a distraction from the nightmare that he plans to inflict on every Mary River community affected by his Government’s proposed Traveston Crossing dam.
“For the last five years Andrew McNamara has done little to secure water for Hervey Bay. His only plan has involved sending Mary River water away to Brisbane.
“Mr McNamara and his Government have criticised the LNP’s plan to build desalination plants powered by renewable energy as an alternative to the proposed Traveston Crossing dam, yet hypocritically Mr McNamara now proposes a desalination plant powered by renewable energy to supply water for Hervey Bay. Is he endorsing the LNP’s water policy?”
Mr Truss also questioned whether Queensland could ever afford Mr McNamara’s dream.
“The State Labor Government has already run up a $65 billion debt by squandering the proceeds of the property and mining boom. How much would Mr McNamara’s plan add to that debt?
“The key questions that would turn Mr McNamara dream into a plan remain unanswered. Who is going to pay for the infrastructure, are these costs going to be passed on through higher water bills to Fraser Coast households and residents? What are the environmental impacts of building three new dams and constructing pipelines?
“Hervey Bay deserves a realistic and achievable, qualified and quantified water security plan. Unfortunately Mr McNamara’s dream is another cynical trick that attempts to cover up the repeated failings of Labor’s water policy.”
