Water for Warrill Board members hosted state and federal government representatives last week to explain their vision for securing long-term reliable irrigation water for the region.
An application for Australian Government funding through the National Water Grid Fund (NWGF) was lodged by the Queensland Government late last year for the Water for Warrill project. If successful, the investment would enable the board to engage specialists to prepare a Preliminary Business Case and Options Analysis for the Water for Warrill proposal.
Last week federal and state government representatives from the National Water Grid Authority (NWGA) and the Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water (DRDMW), visited the western Scenic Rim region to understand more about the project.
They visited a number of farms, across dairy, poultry and horticulture, and spoke with local farmers and agricultural processors. Scenic Rim Regional Council staff also attended.
Board Chairman Richard Gorman says it was a positive visit and an important step in the project journey.
“This project is about securing reliable water for the agricultural sector in the region and has the ability to deliver direct economic benefit of more than $305-million,” he says.
“Initial studies indicate the project would generate $150-million annually in new agricultural revenue and add 1342 new full-time jobs.
“The project can strengthen the agricultural sector in the Warrill and Fassifern Valleys and would supercharge investment certainty. We explained how the project can unlock productive capacity on farms and in value-adding production by removing the uncertainty linked to insufficient and unreliable irrigation water.”
Key project benefits include:
- Long-term regional competitiveness in agricultural production and food processing
- Expansion of regional food manufacturing
- Reduction of pollution to Moreton Bay
- Improved flood risk mitigation for the region
- Direct economic benefit of more than $305-million
- Generate $150-million in new agricultural revenue annually
- Add 1342 new fulltime jobs to the region
If successful, the Preliminary Business Case would look at both infrastructure and non-infrastructure solutions of varying scales to deliver reliable water to the agriculture industry. The aim is to identify the best sources that can practically meet customer needs and aligns with Queensland’s state infrastructure plan.
The proposal is being considered by the Australian Government and outcomes will be announced in due course.