April 3, 2014
Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington has stressed no decision has been made yet by the State Government to build any or all of the proposed dams announced yesterday by Premier Campbell Newman.
The State Government yesterday pinpointed the location of eight new dams in south-east Queensland which it believes could potentially protect thousands of homes and businesses in the Ipswich and Brisbane areas from flooding.
Three of the proposed dams – on Emu Creek, Cooyar Creek and on the Brisbane River at Linville – could potentially affect South Burnett residents.
“This is very early days and I stress to those landowners in the areas affected that there is a lot of work that needs to be undertaken before any plans are implemented,” Mr Newman said.
“But it is our duty to do whatever work we can to investigate all possible options.”
Mrs Frecklington said the dams were just some of the options being looked at but no decision had been made.
“It is just being put out for community consultation,” she said.
“These projects could cost billions, I believe. We are not saying that all the dams will be built.
“However we can’t sit back and allow these events (the Ipswich and Brisbane floods) to continue to happen with tens of thousands of people being affected.”
Some of the dam sites announced yesterday by the State Government have been the subject of previous proposals, and will be familiar to local residents.
They include the upper Brisbane River (near Linville), Cooyar Creek (near Benarkin National Park), Emu Creek (near Harlin), the Bremer River (near Mt Walker), the Stanley River (near Peachester), Tenterhill Creek (near Gatton), Lockyer Creek (near Murphy’s Creek) and Cressbrook Creek.
A spokesman for Energy Minister Mark McArdle told southburnett.com.au it was important to remember this was just ‘Day 1″ of public consultation and no plans for any of the dams were available.
The State Government will also investigate the cost of raising the wall of the Wivenhoe Dam by eight metres.
A study into the proposals will now be commissioned which will be released before Christmas.
(Source: State Government)
