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General News

4 June, 2019

LNP backs Nullinga Dam for our region

Agricultural economic prosperity will flow on the Atherton Tablelands and Far North Queensland with the LNP’s plan to build Nullinga Dam.

By Rhys Thomas

LNP backs Nullinga Dam for our region - feature photo

Agricultural economic prosperity will flow on the Atherton Tablelands and Far North Queensland with the LNP’s plan to build Nullinga Dam.

Speaking at the MSF Sugar Tableland Mill, LNP Shadow Minister for Agriculture Tony Perrett recommitted that a Deb Frecklington LNP Government would get the Nullinga Dam project shovel ready, so it could access federal water infrastructure funding.

Mr Perrett said Far North Queensland’s water security is critical to the region’s prosperity and future economic opportunities.

“It’s essential that Cairns and the Atherton Tablelands have reliable water and it’s time we got this project going,” Mr Perrett said.

“The proposed Nullinga Dam site in the Atherton Tablelands would serve growing urban demand in Cairns and support local agriculture.

“We already know how important agriculture is to the Tablelands.

“By making even more water available, the region will finally be able to unlock its production potential and increase opportunities throughout the agricultural supply chain.

“More water means more fruit, vegetables, sugar cane and jobs.

“The LNP backs this dam because water means jobs – especially in agricultural areas like the Tablelands.

“Annastacia Palaszczuk doesn’t have a plan to create jobs, and Queensland is suffering as a result, with one of the worst unemployment rates in the country.

“You don’t have to explain to Tablelanders about the economic impacts dams can have on regions.

“Just look at the impact the Tinaroo Dam had on the prosperity of the region in the 1960s.”

LNP Shadow Minister for Natural Resources Dale Last said if elected in October 2020, an LNP Government would contribute $10 million to the project and develop an Environmental Impact Statement for the site identified on the Walsh River, west of Atherton.

“Queensland hasn’t built a dam in the regions for 14 years,” Mr Last said.

“That’s why we have committed to setting up the Queensland Dam Company to build new dams like Nullinga.

“Annastacia Palaszczuk is anti-dams, anti-regions and anti-jobs.

“Nullinga Dam will kick-start the regional economy, create new jobs and provide water security for generations to come.

“The LNP is listening to locals and farmers are telling us they need water security to grow their businesses.”

“While Labor is destroying jobs in North Queensland, the LNP has a plan to create them.”

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