Flinders Shire Council pushes for a recreational dam, in the middle of a drought

The $6.1 million dollar project has been in the works of Council for many years and is now seeking funding through Building Better Regions program.

The proposed recreational dam is located up stream from the Hughenden Showgrounds on Hughenden Creek.

The kilometre long, foot shaped dam would be used for recreational fishing, swimming, water skiing and jet skiing; and surrounded by gardens, shelters and gym equipment.

Flinders Shire Council Mayor, Jane McNamara, said the project was about livability.

“While we are trying to attract new industries into town with our meat processing plant and irrigation project, we want to make the town attractive to live in,” Cr McNamara said.

“The dam would border the railway line and you will be able to see it when you come into town from Townsville or Muttaburra.”

Cr McNamara said predominately the dam would be filled from overland flow and topped up from the town water supply.

“Unlike Richmond, which has a flowing bore this is going to cost rate payers money to maintain it. So we are looking at $200,000 a year for maintenance and pumping costs,” she said.

“We have an old bore located in Bond Lane that isn’t being used for town water, so we are looking into reconditioning that bore for the dam. On top of that we also have a licence to extract water out of the Flinders River.

“We are also looking to make the dam a bit deeper then the original plan to keep the weeds and algae out of it. It needs to be at least three metres deep so that will add a little bit to the cost but cut down on maintenance costs.”

Flinders Shire Council applied for the grant back in March and are still awaiting the results.