Important work on water needs for Southern and Darling Downs region progresses

Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing and Minister for Water The Honourable Glenn Butcher

Work is continuing on the Southern and Darling Downs Regional Water Assessment to enable the region to plan for the water needs of the future and drive economic development.

The advisory group appointed to help determine water security options for the Southern and Darling Downs has been presented the initial analysis, as part of the Queensland Government’s Regional Water Assessment.

The assessment is designed to deliver water security and economic growth to one of Queensland’s most important food bowls.  

Since the process began last year, staff from Goondiwindi Regional Council, Western Downs Regional Council, Southern Downs Regional Council and Toowoomba Regional Council, along with representatives from the agriculture, industry and community sectors, have met to develop a holistic approach to water security and economic growth across the region.

Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing and Minister for Water Glenn Butcher said the Service Need analysis was presented to the Southern and Darling Downs Stakeholder Advisory Group at a meeting in Dalby this month in an important next step in the Regional Water Assessment process.

“It is important to thoroughly assess needs in order to determine which options will best deliver water security and economic growth to this important food bowl region of Queensland. This will ensure that investment decisions are well informed and assist this region to plan for the future,” he said.

Minister Butcher said the Regional Water Assessment is more evidence of the Queensland Government’s commitment to water security in the south west.

“The Queensland Government has a strong record of investment in water infrastructure and is committed to water security in the region. We know it’s important to continue both building water infrastructure and planning for future water needs particularly for this growing region.

$15 million was provided for emergency water carting to Stanthorpe, almost $20 million for the Southern Downs drought resilience package, $3 million for a regional water assessment to plan for the region’s long-term water needs and we are current planning for and consulting on the Toowoomba to Warwick Pipeline.

“This process demonstrates our commitment to improving water security across the state and unlocking the economic potential of our regions,” he said.

The Southern and Darling Downs Regional Water Assessment is one of three currently underway across the state, as part of a $9 million investment in regional water assessments across three of Queensland’s food bowl regions – the Southern and Darling Downs, Bundaberg and Burnett, and Tablelands,” he said.

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