THE new Bradfield inland irrigation scheme in North Queensland has garnered bipartisan support with the state government announcing an independent panel to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the proposed project.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the panel, chaired by Professor Ross Garnaut, would also include include Queensland Farmers Federation chief executive officer Dr Georgina Davis and James Cook University Professor Allan Dale.
"We know that access to affordable water for irrigation can foster expanded agribusiness and jobs in regional Queensland," Ms Palaszczuk said.
"Projects like this have the potential to support a new generation of farmers, landholders and regional communities if it's done in a way that is realistic and affordable."
The panel's job will be to assess the financial, economic, environmental, social and technical viability of a Bradfield Scheme, or "Bradfield like" concepts, as well as make recommendations for any further assessment.
The panel's terms of reference include:
- considering the economic benefits to regional communities and agricultural production, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and related recession.
- opportunities for renewable energy generation, complementary hydroelectric power generation, hydrogen production opportunities, and resources sector development.
- integrating with complementary infrastructure, including the CopperString project.
The panel is due to report back to within a year.
Engineer Dr John Bradfield devised the Bradfield Scheme concept in the 1930s.
He proposed to use the floodwaters, and a portion of the normal flow, of the Tully, Herbert, Burdekin, Clarke and Flinders River to create a new permanent river that would "traverse Queensland" from near Hughenden to Windorah and the Queensland border. The goal was to intensify agriculture and population in the south-west.
Dr Bradfield's original concept also envisaged hydroelectric power generated to pump water.
The state LNP are advocates of the New Bradfield Scheme, and last month released engineering drawings of the proposed dam, which would be the largest ever built in Australia.
LNP Leader Deb Frecklington said the New Bradfield Scheme would hold more water than 28 Sydney Harbours and stimulate the whole Queensland economy.
"Well Labor has a panel, the LNP has a plan to build the new Bradfield, in fact we've already started the engineering work from opposition," Ms Frecklington said.
"The new Bradfield scheme is a huge engineering feat that will create water and jobs for North Queensland.
"The question needs to be asked, what has Labor done for the last five years?"
Katter's Australian Party Leader Robbie Katter warned North Queenslanders to be wary of lip service from both Labor and the LNP, saying the Brisbane-based parties were attempting to out-bid one another as the number one supporters of the game-changing revised Bradfield Scheme.
Mr Katter has thrown cold water on the state government's review of proposals for the long-awaited, drought-busting scheme first proposed in the 1930s.
He has also warned the review's reporting cycle was too long and should be brought forward to the first quarter of next year to secure funding in next year's Queensland state budget.
"The timing of Labor's announcement about the review, only weeks out from the 2020 Queensland Election, has not gone unnoticed," Mr Katter said.
"You can have all the reports you want but at the end of the day, development like this require a judgement call from a strong leader.
"The truth is both sides have proven they are incapable of making those judgment calls, so I am not very enthused.
"All we can we be assured of from today's announcement is that consultants will be able to make millions and millions of dollars off the taxpayer to create more reports."
