NORTH QUEENSLAND WATER INFRASTRUCTURE AUTHORITY ESTABLISHED

THE Australian Government has established a dedicated North Queensland Water Infrastructure Authority to provide the strategic planning and coordination needed to deliver water security and boost agriculture throughout the region.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the move was critical to implementing the Hughenden Irrigation Scheme and Hells Gates Dam, including Big Rocks Weir.

“The development potential of North Queensland is enormous and the Australian Government is deeply committed to delivering through our investments in major water infrastructure projects,” Mr McCormack said.

“As well as $54 million for Hells Gates Dam and $182 million for the Hughenden Irrigation Scheme, we have also committed $176 million for Rookwood Weir, $11 million for the Mareeba-Dimbulah Water Supply Scheme and $3 million for the Nogoa Mackenzie Water Supply Scheme.

“The new North Queensland Water Infrastructure Authority will be an executive agency responsible for strategic planning and progressing the business cases for both schemes. Ensuring information sharing among relevant regulatory authorities and keeping me and the Government closely informed of planning and construction works will be another key task.

“This is yet another example of the Liberals & Nationals commitment to deliver water infrastructure North Queensland as well as all regional communities need to grow and thrive.”

The Australian Government is investing more than $3 billion to identify and build new water infrastructure to secure water supplies across Australia.

The Liberals & Nationals Government is investing an addition $500 million into the National Water Infrastructure Development Fund, for which Expressions of Interest are open to State and Territory governments until 1 April 2019.