12.01.2007

FEDERAL Labor leader Kevin Rudd has urged residents to have confidence in the processes, including a federal senate inquiry, that will determine the ultimate fate of the state government’s proposed dam at Traveston.

Mr Rudd, who interrupted his Sunshine Coast holiday to hold a press conference at the Sunshine Beach shops on Wednesday, told reporters he was aware of local concern but was yet to be fully briefed on the dam proposal.

In statements likely to disappoint Traveston dam opponents, Mr Rudd backed the Beattie government’s ability to handle the matter appropriately.

“I’m confident that the Queensland government will be properly investigating these matters in consultation with the local communities,” he said.

“I’m confident that we’ll get to the bottom of all of the detailed environmental concerns and water management concerns which impact on the local community.

“And I have a degree of confidence, a strong degree of confidence, that those ministers responsible in the state government for this, have these matters well in hand.”

Mr Rudd said it was a challenge to balance the need to secure future water supplies with the impact on land-holders and the environment.

“I think we should all place some trust and confidence in the way in which this has been progressed through the local community consultation process,” he said.

A federal Senate inquiry into the $1.7 billion dam is set to go ahead, with no opposition from federal Labor.

Acting Premier Anna Bligh has said the dam would be properly assessed and the government had nothing to fear from an inquiry.