Rookwood Weir top agenda for Central Queensland candidates ahead of state election

Their move came as Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk visited Governor Paul de Jersey to signal the start of Queensland's election campaign.

LNP agriculture spokesman Tony Perrett demanded Labor come clean on why the Rookwood Weir project was missing $92 million and years behind schedule.

"Labor's promised funding for a new weir in central Queensland is delayed in the latest treasury capital program - despite Annastacia Palaszczuk publicly spruiking the project," Mr Perrett said.

Federal Capricornia MP Michelle Landry is disappointed proposed adjustments could diminish the effectiveness of the weir.

"We have the Labor government sitting in George Street cutting the size of weirs, and this isn't the only one, look at what they're doing to Paradise, the farmers around Bundaberg are absolutely gutted by this insufficient Labor government," Ms Landry said.

The weir is being constructed on the Fitzroy River and is being jointly funded by the Federal and State governments.

According to the Palaszczuk Government, it will provide 'thousands of megalitres of water', as well as new economic and employment opportunities for the Central Queensland.agricultural industry.

Mirani LNP candidate Tracie Newitt said the region's farmers needed access to water that could be used for job-creating crops.

"Only Labor could massively reduce the size of a new dam in the middle of a drought before it is even built," Ms Newitt said.

Keppel LNP candidate Adrian De Groot said the state government had to come clean on its anti-dams agenda.

"Labor has been talking about building the Rookwood Weir since 2006 and nothing has been done," Mr De Groot said.

Gladstone LNP candidate Ron Harding said that a full sized and on time Rookwood Weir was extremely important for Gladstone.

"The only way to get Queensland working again and to get Rookwood Weir built properly is to change the government on October 31," Mr Harding said.

Natural Resources Mines and Energy Minister Anthony Lynham said the state government was already building the $352 million Rookwood Weir project.

Dr Lynham said the project was 're-scoped' in 2019 after the federal government dismissed a funding request from Ms Palaszczuk.

"To date, $76 million has been spent by the Queensland government on Rookwood Weir, including $19 million on non-capitalised costs such as the detailed business case, water marketing and risk management, in addition to the $56.66 million in capital expenditure," Dr Lynham said.

"This is in line with the revised weir design project budget."

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