A $700 MILLION project, that would see more than 100,000 mega litres of water piped from the Burdekin River to Bowen annually, is progressing but still needs the ‘missing piece’.
The Bowen Pipeline Project is a 182km underground water pipeline, commencing 16km upstream from Home Hill and travelling south to Bowen.
Proponents Bowen Pipeline Company (BPC) said they had secured the entire 182 kilometres of trunk and branch lines, except for 40 metres from the Lower Burdekin Water Board.
“This is the final outstanding piece we need for the project to move forward,” BPC director Sean Brown said.
“All the private land has been secured and we have support from both Whitsunday Regional Council and Burdekin Shire Council to use their road reserves, subject to obtaining all local authority approvals.
“We have also secured the land for all five pump stations, plus the laydown areas.
“We have written to the Lower Burdekin Water Board chairman asking for an ‘In Principle Agreement’ to under bore the open channel, at Barry Road, Kirknie.
“Without this agreement from the water board, the $700 million project will be delayed further.”
The project – for which engineers’ designs and costings have already been completed – will allow for the creation of a reliable, secure water supply for Bowen residents and businesses.
The Bowen region produces one fifth of Australia’s vegetables and is Australia’s largest winter vegetable growing area, currently growing about $650 million of fruit and vegetables, each year (at farm gate prices).
Mr Brown said the pipeline would mostly run adjacent to the Bruce Highway, mainly on private land and unformed road reserves.
“Existing available water allocations from the Burdekin Falls Dam will be secured from Sunwater and local water allocation owners,” Mr Brown said.
“The project has 41 grower and industry investors who have, to date, invested some $2.5 million and we are in negotiations with a US funds manager with US $250bn under management
“Most local investors are growers, business owners and individual residents in the Bowen and Burdekin Regions.
“Importantly, project equity holders include the Juru People – the Traditional Owners of the Bowen Region.”
Mr Brown said the project would create 200 jobs during construction and 1,200 when operational, generating economic gain of $300 million, every year.
“We will operate a ‘Locals First’ employment policy and train everyone who wants a job,” he said.
“The BPC has agreements with all 15 impacted private landowners, as well as an Early Works Deed with Economic Development Queensland (EDQ) for the Abbot Point State Development Area (APSDA) pump station.”
Mr Brown said the Ministerial Project Approval Process had been delayed, which was ‘very disappointing’.
“The endorsement to lodge our Ministerial Infrastructure Designation application with the Department of Housing, Local Government, Planning and Public Works has been delayed by the department, until a new government is elected [October 26].
“This is very disappointing, as the endorsement would have meant we would receive the Ministerial approval in April 2025, be straight into local council permitting, with construction due to start in November 2025.
“The outcome of the delay is that this adds another five months to the process, when we have already been delayed for 15 months.
“A speedy approval by an incoming government would see the project built and operational, in 2028.
“We will also be applying for the usual Commonwealth Government National Water Grid Authority (NWGA) grant funding for construction.
“Without that, the water is not affordable for water users.
“We are grateful for the public support for the project from Dale Last MP, Anne Baker and Daniel Carroll, the new Katter Party member.”
