MEMBER for Burdekin Dale Last will meet with the State Natural Resources Minister in the coming weeks to push the proposed Urannah Dam project, southwest of Collinsville.
Mr Last said the Urannah Dam ticked all the boxes in terms of approvals.
“It’s construction will not only provide much-needed jobs but will bring massive economic benefits for the entire Mackay region,” Mr Last said.
“I’m pleased the Urannah report has been finalised and the Expression of Interest submission has been made to acquire full funding for a feasibility study via the National Water Infrastructure Development Fund.
“This is something I, alongside Bowen Collinsville Enterprise, and others have been advocating strongly for.
“The dam will support the growth of our agricultural/horticultural and mining industries, as well as deliver long-term water security for the region.
“We’ve had decades of proposals put forward to construct a dam on Urannah Station which will grow and develop our northern and central Queensland regions.
“The time for talk is now over and we are entering an exciting stage, taking Urannah from concept stage through to investment-ready and ultimately shovel-ready and operational stages.”
Mr Last said the Queensland Government’s Burdekin Basin Catchment Study in 2001 specifically identified the Urannah Dam as the most viable water storage option in the entire Burdekin River catchment.
“The Burdekin River is a mighty river system and Urannah will have a greater storage capacity than the Burdekin Falls Dam,” Mr Last said.
“It will have a deeper reservoir of water, taking up less land being only 16 per cent of the size of the Burdekin Falls Dam.
“Urannah is unique in that it’s central to established and planned future industrial and agricultural opportunities.
“The opportunities are endless; all we have to do is simply add water.”
