A future Deb Frecklington LNP Government will create a new government-owned corporation based in Townsville to construct new dams and unleash the economic potential of regional Queensland.
The new Queensland Dam Company (QDC) will create new jobs in Townsville and implement the LNP’s plan for new dams and dam upgrades in Central and North Queensland.
LNP Leader Deb Frecklington said it was now 14 years since a dam had been built in regional Queensland and she was determined to finally turn on the dam investment tap.
“The lack of investment in water infrastructure is yet another example of Labor ignoring the regions,” Ms Frecklington said.
“Our population is growing and regional communities are crying out for jobs, but Annastacia Palaszczuk is only bothered about Brisbane.
“Quite simply, water means jobs.
“New dams will kick-start regional economies, create new jobs and provide water security for generations to come.
“SunWater hasn’t built a dam since 2005 so we clearly need a new plan for water infrastructure.
“SunWater will still manage our existing dams, but the new Townsville company will be firmly focused on delivering the additional dams our regions need.
“Setting up the Queensland Dam Company in Townsville is a deliberate strategy to tackle unacceptably high unemployment in the region.
“Since Annastacia Palaszczuk was elected 4,000 jobs in Townsville have been lost.
“A head office business will encourage other businesses to expand existing offices or relocate the regions.
“The Queensland Dam Company will be encouraged to use local businesses so there will be flow on benefits for service providers like engineers, accountants, project managers, surveyors and construction workers.
“We need to make the Townsville economy more resilient and a major head office company like the Queensland Dam Company will bolster the region.”
The LNP has already committed to progressing the Nullinga Dam project on the Atherton Tablelands, the Urannah Dam project north-west of Mackay and raising the Burdekin Falls Dam south of Townsville.
LNP Shadow Resources Minister and Member for Burdekin Dale Last said the QDC would work with the Federal Government to secure funding of the three projects, as well as all future dams.
“Canberra has more than a billion dollars available for new dams, but Labor has just sat on its hands,” Mr Last said.
“Water means more jobs for agriculture and industry – and more hope for regional communities.
“While Labor is destroying jobs in North Queensland, the LNP has a plan to create them.”
