How to spend $60m …

The Federal and State governments between them have committed roughly $60m of taxpayers’ money to Emu Swamp Dam.  However there is no evidence that Emu Swamp Dam provides long-term water security for the region: in fact the State government’s modelling presented to SDRC in November 2020 has shown that Emu Swamp Dam would not have prevented water carting if we were in a repeat of the drought scenario of 2020.

But $60m is a lot of money.  And surely with that much money you could make huge progress towards long-term water security?  So what could we do if that money was available for real long-term water security projects?

$10m     Installation of water tanks onto most Stanthorpe urban buildings, plus retrofitting of water efficient appliances.  This could save up to 50% of Stanthorpe’s water consumption, and create lots of local jobs, and a boost to the local economy.

$30m     Either the Connolly Dam pipeline OR raising the wall of Storm King Dam.  To be refreshingly different, choose the one that experts assess is the best long-term option (radical, I know ...)

$0m       Release the 1740 ML strategic infrastructure reserve water allocation to local farmers by way of tender to be accessed from stream flow harvesting and retained in on-farm storage.  SDRC in its submission to the draft Water Resource Plan in 2018 stated “Studies undertaken by GHD [water consultants] found significant support for [this] position from existing irrigators, many of whom are “fed up” with the ongoing promotion of an unviable water augmentation option (Emu Swamp Dam).  Council has also received representations to this effect.” 

$20m     With the remaining $20m, fund an innovative scheme with input from local agriculture to improve best-practice water storage and water use on farms.  This would lead to the same horticultural increases as the dam, at one-third of the cost.  And it would be more equitable as many more farmers could be involved, instead of just a few.

Surely it is now time to start thinking proactively of how benefits can be distributed equitably to the whole community and advance long-term water security for both urban and agricultural users.