21 January 2020
Yesterday, Southern Downs Regional Council was visited by Queensland Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk. The Premier advised that a pipeline could be delivering water to the Southern Downs and Granite Belt by the end of the year.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk inspected progress in Warwick where experts have already nominated a likely route using existing road and rail corridors.
The Premier said that meant one thing: delivering the pipeline faster.
“By using existing publicly owned land, there will be very little if any land acquisitions required thus streamlining the project,” she said.
The Premier announced a $1 million feasibility study for the project in November. The potential pipeline would link Warwick to water from Wivenhoe Dam via Toowoomba.
The feasibility study is expected to be concluded in April.
Southern Downs Mayor Tracy Dobie said the Premier has stood by Warwick and Stanthorpe during one of the worst droughts in memory.
“The Premier said she wouldn’t let us run out of drinking water and she has been true to her word,” Mayor Tracy Dobie said.
“We don’t want to go through another summer like this one again and the pipeline is just the most welcome news we have had in a long time.
“The only thing better would be more rain!”
The State Government is providing $800,000 a month to truck water into Stanthorpe.
The State Government has joined the Council with drought assistance measures including:
• $13.6 million to kick start the new Emu Swamp Dam
• $3.939 million replacing pipelines between Storm King Dam and Mount Marley Water Treatment Plant
• $950,000 to the Southern Downs Regional Council to progress water security projects related to new and rejuvenated bores and fixing leaks in the reticulation system
• $600,000 in freight subsidies
• $300,000 in Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate Assistance to 56 producers