Thursday, 9 November 2006

Author/Owner: Jeff Seeney

The Queensland Coalition is calling for a series of smaller dams to be built in south-east Queensland instead of the Traveston Crossing Dam in the wake of comments from one of Australia’s leading experts in sustainable development.

State Coalition Leader Jeff Seeney welcomed comments from Sydney University of Technology Professor Stuart White who today said the Traveston Crossing Dam was “very risky because it was such a large single supply source” (612 ABC Radio Brisbane).

Professor White, who is investigating alternatives to the Traveston Crossing Dam at the request of Wide Bay and Sunshine Coast Mayors, said it was “much better to have a series of smaller diverse solutions”.

Mr Seeney challenged the Queensland Labor Government to adopt the Coalition’s policy to build a water grid of smaller dams which have been planned for years and to also provide more financial assistance for councils and businesses to recycle water for industrial use.

“The Queensland Labor Government must scrap its unworkable Traveston Crossing Dam plans and instead pursue alternatives which have lower environmental, economic and social costs,” Mr Seeney said.

“For example, raising the Borumba Dam by up to 30 metres would yield an extra 23,000 – 40,000 megalitres of water a year at a cost of up to $266 million, and work could start almost immediately because the State Government owns all the land.

“In contrast, work on Labor’s ad hoc dam at Traveston Crossing won’t start for years - if ever, will cost at least $1.7 billion to build, force hundreds of people off their properties, and put a number of roads, including parts of the Bruce Highway, underwater.”

Mr Seeney said a Queensland Water Commission report released last week revealed current plans to supply recycled water to industrial and commercial customers in Brisbane would only save half as much water as first hoped.

“This report highlights the need for the State Labor Government to do more to help councils and businesses recycle water for industrial use and free up fresh water for drinking supplies,” he said.

“The Queensland Labor Government did nothing for eight years while Brisbane’s water supplies dried up, and their last minute panic plans to build a dam at Traveston Crossing just don’t stack up economically, environmentally and socially.”

Labor playing politics on recycled water pipeline

Thursday, 9 November 2006

Author/Owner: Jeff Seeney

Labor politicians have ignored calls to pump Brisbane’s recycled wastewater west for years and are now playing politics to divert attention from eight years of water infrastructure inaction, the Queensland Coalition said today.

State Coalition Leader Jeff Seeney today released a letter the Coalition wrote more than two years ago asking the Queensland Labor Government to seek Federal funding for a recycled water pipeline.

“The Coalition has been warning for years that failure to invest in new water infrastructure would lead to a crisis developing but Labor refused to listen,” he said.

“The current Health Minister Stephen Robertson, in particular, had no interest in investing in new water supplies for south-east Queensland during his time as Natural Resources Minister.

“Mr Robertson described dams as ‘1950s dinosaur thinking’, attacked the Coalition for daring to suggest the region needed more infrastructure and did absolutely nothing to advance the much needed recycled water pipeline.

“Now a logjam of billions of dollars worth of infrastructure that should have been planned and built years ago has to be rushed through and it is ratepayers who will pay for Labor’s neglect.”

Mr Seeney said the Coalition had supported plans to pipe Brisbane’s recycled wastewater west for almost a decade.

“A recycled water pipeline should have been built years ago and the State Labor Government should have sought Federal funding for water infrastructure in south-east Queensland years ago,” he said.

“The water crisis gripping south-east Queensland has very little to do with drought and a whole lot to do with the State Labor Government’s bad planning and infrastructure inaction.”

Plan D for Traveston – how many more in Bligh’s drawer?

 
Wednesday, 1 November 2006

Author/Owner: David Gibson

How many more plans for the Traveston Crossing Dam were in Anna Bligh’s top drawer the State Coalition questioned today.

In a question to the Deputy Premier in State Parliament this morning, Member for Gympie, David Gibson, asked Ms Bligh how many more plans for the ill-conceived project were in her top drawer.

“This is the fourth plan for the Traveston Crossing Dam that has been released by your Government,” Mr Gibson said.

“Why did you release “Plan D” when further major test drilling is still being undertaken (this week) to determine whether the water table will preclude construction at your latest site?

“And why should the people of the Mary Valley be forced to suffer when not a single cost-benefit or environmental study has been started, let alone completed on this project,” Mr Gibson asked the Deputy Premier.

Mr Gibson said the Beattie Government was running so far behind on water, the situation was now acute and the rush on Mary Valley property resumptions was a symptom of a government in shambles.

“Not a single cost-benefit or environment study on this project has been started, let alone completed. Engineering studies are not available because they haven’t been completed, but we have a Minister rushing ahead to resume properties for a project that has been criticised internationally as an environmental disaster.”

“These are the actions of a Minister and a government in panic …do nothing for years criticise dams as dinosaur thinking ….but then when it all hits the fan ….race out and announce a site rejected years ago while ignoring all the previous studies and tests and serious environmental concerns.”

Media Contact: David Gibson 0437 839 391 or Daniel Hobbs 0400 531 837