Townsville’s economic boost from LNP game-changer

Townsville will be the epicentre of a local jobs bonanza brought on by the LNP’s commitment to the New Bradfield Scheme.

During a visit to Townsville today, LNP Leader Deb Frecklington said the economic benefits for the region will be enormous.

“The New Bradfield Scheme is an incredible opportunity for Queensland,” Ms Frecklington said.

“Thousands of jobs will be created by construction of the enlarged Hells Gates Dam, its hydro-electric plant and tunnels through the range.

“The larger Hells Gate Dam would provide water for North Queensland producers.

“Townsville plays a crucial role in the LNP’s plans to drought-proof this state.

“A new government-owned corporation The Queensland Dam Company will be created in Townsville to support the project’s implementation and it will bring new public service roles to the city.

“The New Bradfield Scheme will help water flow through Queensland’s outback and the jobs will come with it.

“This will be North Queensland’s version of the Snowy Mountains Scheme.

“Queenslanders are crying out for leadership but they’re not getting it from Annastacia Palaszczuk.

“Labor is anti-regions, anti-dams, and anti-jobs.

“Only the LNP has a plan to get Queensland working.

“A vote for the LNP is a vote for jobs, infrastructure and water security.

“I want to get things done, we can’t waste another four years.”

• The New Bradfield Scheme would almost double the height of the proposed Hell’s Gate Dam in North Queensland to over 120m, drawing water from the South Johnstone, Tully, Herbert and Burdekin rivers into a lake potentially twice the size of the Burdekin Falls Dam.
• While the original Bradfield Scheme required expensive pumping to transfer water over the range, the New Bradfield Scheme would use gravity to feed water from the Hell’s Gate Dam through tunnels beneath the range.
• The water would be used to irrigate around 80,000 square kilometres of rich blacksoil plains to the south and west of Hughenden – an area substantially larger than Tasmania.
• Instead of draining into Lake Eyre – as John Bradfield proposed – the New Bradfield Scheme would divert water into the Warrego River and the northern basin of the Murray-Darling System, where it will be reserved for use by southern Queensland farmers.
• Instead of consuming electricity, the New Bradfield Scheme would generate thousands of megawatts of power through a series of hydro-electric plants.

For more information on the LNP’s New Bradfield Scheme visit https://www.deb2020.com.au/newbradfield/