LNP Shadow Minister for Natural Resources Dale Last has hit out at the Palaszczuk Labor Government for scrapping funds for the Burdekin Falls Dam hydro project promised at the last state election.
Mr Last said Labor had pledged $100 million for the hydro project back in 2017*, but the promised funds have been redirected to CleanCo instead**.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk has broken her promise to invest in the dam and create jobs,” Mr Last said.
“The Labor Government’s own Building Queensland report confirms the $100 million earmarked and the Burdekin hydro project is going elsewhere.
“The fake announcement from Annastacia Palaszczuk about a business case for raising the dam wall is more about the next election than upgrading dams and creating jobs in North Queensland.
“Talk about a slow-moving government - the LNP announced we would raise the Burdekin Falls Dam in June last year.
“Today Labor said they would finally fund a business case for the dam wall, but it wouldn’t be until 2024. They are treating North Queenslanders with contempt and this community will see through her spin.
“I know Labor moves slow but that is seriously glacial.
“The lack of investment in water infrastructure is yet another example of Labor ignoring the regions.
“You can’t believe a word Labor says when it comes to upgrading this dam.
“While Labor is destroying jobs in North Queensland, the LNP has a plan to create them.
“The Palaszczuk Labor Government is anti-dams, anti-regions and anti-jobs.”
A future Deb Frecklington LNP Government will create a new government-owned corporation, the Queensland Dam Company, based in Townsville to construct new dams.
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.
*2017 Labor election promise:
$100 million reinvestment of Stanwell dividends to help fund the proposed hydro-electric power station at Burdekin Falls Dam. Subject to feasibility investigations and other dam construction works, project construction will be targeted to commence from 2020, and support up to 200 jobs;
http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2017/6/28/kidston-hydro-and-solar-project-granted-critical-infrastructure
**Building Queensland Report:
Published last month, the report confirms the $100 million reallocation and broken election promise:
https://buildingqueensland.qld.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Infrastructure-Pipeline-Report-2019.pdf
