$2.9billion dam project that will create 1,875 jobs in Queensland passes a major hurdle - but Aboriginal community opposes plans that will damage their 'sacred rivers'
- Central Queensland dam to create 1200 full-time jobs during construction phase
- The Premier said it will also create 675 full-time positions when operations start
- Water pipeline will supply agriculture farms, nearby mines and heavy industry
- But environmental and Indigenous groups oppose the 1.5-million-megalitre dam
- Environmentalists claim the development could wipe out the rare Irwin's turtle
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says multi-billion dollar dam project will create almost 2000 full-time jobs
A multi-billion dollar dam project in Central Queensland is one step closer to becoming a reality with the development declared a coordinated project by the state government on Thursday.
The proposed $2.9billion Urannah Dam is now set to undergo an assessment process to determine the environmental, social, cultural and economic impacts it may have on the region.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the 1.5-million-megalitre dam has the potential to create up to 1,200 full-time jobs during the construction phase and 675 full-time positions once operations have commenced.
But local environmental and Indigenous groups are firmly opposed to the controversial development.
'Jobs and water security are two of the most important things for Queensland right now,' Premier Palaszczuk said.
'Progressing projects like this will help to secure our state's future.
'If we're backing industry and helping facilitate big projects, we're putting more Queenslanders into jobs.'
The proposed $2.9billion Urannah Dam site (pictured) will supply to high-value agriculture precincts, as well as mines and other heavy industries
But local environmental and Indigenous groups are firmly opposed to the controversial development at the Broken-Bowen River system (pictured)
The pipeline is set to provide water to high-value agriculture precincts, as well as mines and other heavy industries.
The Premier says the site will also feature a pumped hydro-electricity power scheme in the upper Broken River Valley, north west of Mackay.
But Shine Energy, who have proposed a coal-fired power station in North Queensland, have stated they will not use any water coming from the dam and are instead opting for internal dry-cooling systems.
'We as Birri and Widi traditional owners stand opposed to the [Urannah Dam] project as it will have a major environmental impact on our sacred rivers and all water rights belong to our people,' the company's CEO Ash Dodd told the Guardian.
Mackay Conservation Group coordinator, Peter McCallum, told Daily Mail Australia that members of his organisation stand in solidarity with the traditional owners of the land.
'We hope that the coordinated project process for Urannah Dam is full and comprehensive and considers an option for no dam, as well as other options such as eco-tourism. This must be done in conjunction and with the full consent of traditional owners,' he said.
Environmentalists are concerned a rare turtle found in the river system could come under threat as a result of the project.
'The Irwin's turtle was first discovered by famed naturalist Steve Irwin and his father Bob in 1990, and is a freshwater turtle with its main habitat in the Broken-Bowen River system which includes the proposed dam catchment. Habitat loss is identified as a key threat to this species,' Mr McCallum said.
'If proposed projects like the Urannah Dam are to go ahead it will directly affect the last remaining population stronghold of the turtle and will very likely endanger the survival of this ancient species.'
Ken Peters-Dodd of the Indigenous Widi people is pictured with the rare Irwin's turtle
'The creature was first discovered by famed naturalist Steve Irwin and could be threatened by the project, conservation groups claim
He said, while Queensland and Australia are facing an extraordinary crisis with the coronavirus pandemic, it is irresponsible to throw $2.9 billion at a 'pipe-dream'.
'The Queensland Government has a track record of dams that cost the public a lot of money, which later turned out to be economic disasters,' Mr McCallum said.
'You don't have to look far, the Paradise Dam at Bundaberg has been an unqualified failure.
'Since the 1960s there have been at least 25 investigations into the feasibility of a dam at Urannah Creek. None of them have resulted in a compelling case for this dam to go ahead.'
Despite the criticism, Minister for State Development Cameron Dick said the government will continue to investigate new water infrastructure proposals for Central and North Queensland.
'If there's a big job-creating project proposed for Queensland that has merit, we'll look at it,' Mr Dick said.
'These assessments are extremely thorough, and through the independent Office of the Coordinator-General we look to identify the most optimal projects for our regions.'
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