Mixed reactions to news that IFED irrigated agriculture project has been suspended

Anthony Penrith, who is with Gamarard Consulting in Cairns, said he had worked closely with the IFED group for three years, undertaking all necessary due diligence checks, and he was convinced it was no “pie in the sky” idea.

“We were hoping that Indigenous interests, employment and businesses would prosper from this potential project,” Mr Penrith said. “It would have started other projects, particularly in the Gulf, but nothing’s going ahead north of Bundaberg under this government.”

The Wilderness Society was against the project from the start and its former Queensland campaign manager, Tim Seelig, now head of the Queensland Conservation Council, said news that the project had lapsed was excellent.

“It was hard to describe it as ill-conceived when there was so little information about it, but its water requirements completely exceeded the Gulf Water Resources Plan.

“It was completely unsustainable, and people would only have a sense of disappointment if they believed the hype.

“I suspect its ultimate intentions were to sell it off to overseas interests anyway.”

It was Mr Penrith’s understanding that probably 12 months work remained before the EIS could be completed, and he said the plan could probably be put on hold and broken down into smaller stages.

“I think it’s just a case of going back to the drawing board and that it’s not finished,” he said. “I certainly hope it’s just in abeyance.”

Etheridge mayor Warren Devlin was not available for comment.