Urannah Dam a step closer to reality, with a bilateral agreement to progress the project signed.

queensland, Urannah Dam,

February 25, 2022

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Urannah Dam is a step closer to reality, with the Australian and Queensland governments signing a bilateral agreement to progress the project.

This follows the Australian Government’s investment last July of an additional $12.65 million towards the business case and approvals, taking our total funding for Urannah Dam to $22.65 million.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Barnaby Joyce said the Nationals and Liberals are focused on securing the region’s water future.

“The signing of the bilateral agreement is a significant step forward in delivering water security for the Broken River Valley,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

“Water supply and security help form the backbone of so many Central Queensland communities, underpinning local agricultural and primary businesses, supporting jobs and driving economic growth.

Queensland Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing and Minister for Water Glenn Butcher said the funding enables Bowen River Utilities to progress its business case and other early investigations into the project.

“The Queensland Government made an application for funding on behalf of proponent Bowen River Utilities in June 2021,” Minister Butcher said.

“The proposed dam and hydro-electric scheme are located in the Broken River Valley (within the Burdekin Basin) approximately 86 kilometres southeast of Collinsville and 80 kilometres west of Mackay in Central Queensland.”

Federal Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry said the transformative project stands to open up 20,000 hectares of prime agricultural land and support more than 1,800 jobs.

“This dam could help provide viable water sources to support 30 active projects and 71 new local projects, highlighting the importance of this investment for communities of Central and North Queensland,” Ms Landry said.

Federal Member for Dawson George Christensen said the business case includes detailed technical assessments and an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to advance the project towards investment consideration.

“The current proposal for the 970 gigalitre Urannah Dam includes a water pipeline network, an irrigated precinct, and pumped hydro-electricity storage and power generation infrastructure,” Mr Christensen said.

“The Australian Government has committed more than $1.15 billion to improving water infrastructure across Queensland as part of the 10-year National Water Grid construction program.”

The Australian Government is investing in water infrastructure projects right across Queensland, including:

• $600 million towards the restoration of Paradise Dam;
• $183.6 million towards the Rookwood Weir.
• $180 million towards the Hughenden Irrigation Scheme, including $10 million for the detailed business case; and
• $30 million towards the Big Rocks Weir.

The Australian Government will continue to work collaboratively with the Queensland Government to identify, plan and deliver water infrastructure for Queensland.

For more information on the National Water Grid Fund, visit www.nationalwatergrid.gov.au.

About Urannah Dam

The proposed dam and hydro-electric scheme are located in the Broken River Valley (within the Burdekin Basin) approximately 86 kilometres (km) south east of Collinsville and 80 km west of Mackay in Central Queensland.

The water distribution network includes in-stream distribution in the Bowen and Broken Rivers to the Bowen River Weir, a new 66 km pipeline north to the Peter Faust Dam, a new 17 km pipeline south east to the Eungella Dam and a 150 km pipeline south to Moranbah. The irrigation precinct is located around 20-30 km south and southwest of Collinsville. Map

Key features:

• dam – a gravity fed dam on the Broken River with water storage capacity of up to 970,000 megalitres
• water distribution network from the proposed dam north to the Peter Faust Dam and on to Bowen and Abbot Point, south to Eungella Dam and Moranbah – including water pipelines and instream distribution and storage of water with associated ancillary works, such as pump stations and power supply infrastructure
• irrigation precinct – an irrigated agricultural development area of up to 25,000 hectares (ha), which includes 9850 ha of suitable high value cropping farm development and 12,250 ha of improved grazing and associated in-stream and off-stream storages, trunk delivery works and on-farm infrastructure
• pumped hydro-electric power storage and power generation infrastructure – power generation infrastructure producing 1.4 GW+ electricity supply and approximately 8 GWhr+ pumped storage capacity, incorporating power stations (surface and underground), dams and reservoirs, waterways and power transmission infrastructure
• ancillary works and infrastructure – for example, quarries and borrows, road and access development and upgrades, site establishment areas, laydowns, site amenities and accommodation, services and utilities (including electricity, telecommunications).

Source: © Copyright, Commonwealth of Australia

© The State of Queensland (State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning) 2011–2022

Queensland Government

View the full media release here

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