CLONCURRY Shire Council is in the final process of buying Corella Dam for a dollar.
The Queensland Government would transfer the dam infrastructure and the rights to its water at that price. In return the Department of Natural Resources and Mines converts lots to freehold land at a cost of $139, 492 to the council.
The Queensland Treasury would also pay the council $500,000 for future operational and maintenance costs, according to minutes of the council’s February meeting.
Cloncurry mayor Greg Campbell said the council was in the final process of having the land tenure and full ownership resolved for the dam 40 kilometres west of the town. “We’ve essentially got clear control of it from now,” he said.
The council taking ownership of the dam had been an ongoing project spanning three Cloncurry mayors. It enabled the council to draw on 10,500 megalitres and ensured water security for future industries in mining and agriculture.
“Water is going to be worth a hell of a lot into the future,” Cr Campbell said. “There’s great potential in mineralisation in the surrounding area. It gives an added level of security for the council and the community into the future.”
“When the study was done on the (Cloncurry) meatworks was done years ago the water of Corella Dam would supply in excess of five years,” Cr Campbell said.
The council had not examined the local meatworks proposal this term. “If someone in industry was interested in pursuing it I’d be interested to look at it. At the moment as far as activity around the meatworks goes I’d be happy to see what develops in Hughenden.”
Ownership of the dam gave council the official responsibility to clean the rubbish left behind at the popular tourist site for the benefit of locals and visitors. Hundreds of caravans have been known to camp a night during the tourist season.
“It is fairly uncontrolled and the responsibility to clean up and sort out the rubbish has fallen back to council,” the mayor said.
“If we had the responsibility we wanted the ownership of the site to manage to the best interests of the community.”
