By Jeremy Sollars
GRANITE Belt and Southern Downs locals could be forgiven for thinking that the last decade’s worth of reports and studies produced on the Emu Swamp Dam proposal could themselves be used to block the Severn River pretty effectively.
A process which already seems to have taken forever is still no closer to a final costing for the controversial dam plan, with figures between $76m and $113m having been bandied about so far.
The cost to date to ratepayers of environmental reports, feasibility studies and the like already tops $4m, with the latest round of Federal investigative funding coming through in May in the form of $3.97m from the National Water Infrastructure Development Fund.
Crucially though, it seems this latest chunk of money could actually result in a design of the dam structure itself, which is where the real nitty-gritty of the costing will be found.
Southern Downs Regional Council CEO David Keenan this week told the Free Times the council was waiting on direction from State and Federal governments on how the latest money was to be spent, but said a design component would be in the works.
“Southern Downs Regional Council is awaiting feedback and finalisation from State and Federal governments in relation to the key activities to be undertaken under the funding from the National Water Infrastructure Development Fund,” Mr Keenan said.
“While the anticipated end result of the feasibility studies and additional investigations will be the production of a finalised business plan to attract potential government and third-party investment, a component of design and quantity surveying is proposed in the investigations.”
Long-time supporter of the dam Cr Vic Pennisi was at a council media conference in Stanthorpe on Wednesday and said without a detailed design of the dam itself the true end cost was impossible to estimate.
“We have an environmental approval but that’s all we have at this stage,” Cr Pennisi said.
“It’s very difficult to cost without a detailed design.”
Mayor Tracy Dobie told the media this week the Emu Swamp Dam was number two on the council’s list of lobbying priorities for higher levels of government, following speculation the council had all but pulled its support for the dam.
Cr Dobie said an irrigation component to Emu Swamp Dam was still seen as just as important as the dam helping to shore up the Stanthorpe urban supply.
A dam long time in the making:
- 8 September 2006 : Application, initial advice statement submitted to State Government.
- 20 December 2006: Project referred to Commonwealth Minister for the Environment.
- 3 January 2007: Project deemed a “controlled action” by the Minister.
- 9 February 2007: Gazettal of “co-ordinated project” declaration.
- 31 March – 8 May 2007: Draft terms of reference for EIS public consultation.
- 26 June 2007: Terms of reference for EIS released.
- 12 January 2008 – 25 February 2008: EIS public consultation.
- 7 April 2008: Additional information for the EIS requested by the Queensland Co-ordinator-General.
- April – May 2014: additional information to EIS assessed by other government agencies.
- 29 September 2014: Co-ordinator-General’s report on EIS released.
- 11 November 2014: Commonwealth Minister for the Environment’s approval of “controlled actions” subject to conditions.
- May 2016: National Water Infrastructure Development Fund approves $3.97m for further studies and design.
- 9 September 2016: Weather bureau says Stanthorpe in for a wet weekend.
