Community
4 December, 2021
Call for Federal Government to commit to water security project
WATER security remains top of Council’s wish list when the Federal Government hands down its next Budget and leading into the next Federal election.
Federal Budgets are normally delivered in May each year, however with 2022 being an election year, it is widely expected that the 2022- 23 Federal Budget will be handed down earlier.
Council will make a formal submission that provisions be made in the forward estimates of the Federal Government 2022/23 Budget, for a contribution of $107.5 million towards the Cairns Water Security – Stage 1 project.
The project will secure the city’s water needs well into the next decade by sourcing new water from the Mulgrave River, which will be integrated into the Cairns network.
This follows Council’s submission in October to the Queensland Government for a similar commitment towards the Cairns Water Security – Stage 1 project being made in its 2022/23 Budget.
“The city’s primary water source, Copperlode Falls Dam, was built in 1976 when our population was 58,000 people. Call for Federal Government to commit to water security project
“Our service population has more than tripled since then to 198,000 (residents and visitors) – Copperlode will simply not be able to meet the water needs of our growing population,” Cairns Mayor Bob Manning said.
“By 2026, demand for water in Cairns could will outstrip our existing supply capacity; it is unfathomable that, without action, the largest city in the Wet Tropics could actually run-out of drinking water.”
Cairns Mayor Bob Manning said the project would also yield significant economic benefits for the city.
“During its construction, the project is expected to contribute more than $242 million to Cairns economy and support the equivalent of 1,658 annual full time jobs.
“Once complete, it will importantly protect our reputation as a high quality tourist destination, the flow on effect being it will support more than 3100 fulltime jobs across the city.
In April 2021, Council unanimously endorsed the Cairns Water Security – Stage 1 project as its number 1 advocacy priority and since then has received strong support from the Cairns business community for the project.
More than 200 businesses have uploaded their logos to the Council’s website in a show of support for the $215 million project and the project (and the budget submission) also has the support of the Federal Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch as well as his State counterparts.
Cr Manning said securing a future water supply was the most crucial project for the region over the next decade and support from both the Federal and State governments was essential.
“Council cannot afford to go through this alone without adverse ramifications for the community, such has potentially higher rates and/or a reduced capacity to deliver other key community projects and services,” he said.
“Our community shouldn’t be burdened with these unacceptable choices when at this very moment, State and Federal Governments are investing hundreds of millions of dollars in water projects in other parts of Queensland.
“It’s time for both the Federal and State Governments to commit similar funding for Cairns.”
