The Queensland Government announced on 25 November 2022 that “The Granite Belt Irrigation Project, which includes Emu Swamp Dam, will be included in the Palaszczuk Government’s Southern and Darling Downs Regional Water Assessment (RWA) program.”  The Regional Water Assessment program is looking at the Granite Belt’s future water needs and exploring the merits of alternative options.

What was encouraging in the announcement was the focus on the community, with State Water Minister Glenn Butcher stating “it’s absolutely critical that we plan for projects like these, so they don’t become a drain on the taxpayer” and Federal Water Minister Tanya Plibersek stating “We know that the Stanthorpe region has faced real water security issues in the past. It’s important we find a solution for the community.”   

The inclusion in the RWA means that Emu Swamp Dam will be assessed against other options.  Apples with apples, so to speak.  This is not the first time the various options have been compared, and Emu Swamp Dam’s performance in prior comparisons suggests that it will probably not perform very strongly on a multi-criteria analysis. 

In April 2010, an expert analysis and comparison of five potential urban water supply options for Stanthorpe was presented to SDRC:

1. Emu Swamp Dam - urban only option

2. Off Stream Storage at Diamondvale

3. Petries Crossing - Off Stream Storage

4. Emu Swamp 1600ML Off Stream Storage and 630ML dam; and

5. Connolly Dam pipeline.

The report recommended the pipeline from Connolly Dam as representing the best option in terms of all criteria investigated. 

In 2011 SDRC, at further cost to ratepayers, commissioned Unidel to undertake further research on the viability of the Emu Swamp Dam project.  The Unidel report found that economic, engineering and environmental concerns would make the proposed Emu Swamp Dam site uneconomic and unviable.

In 2017 SDRC commissioned a further feasibility study by GHD. This found that other options to improve urban water security for Stanthorpe were more effective and less costly than Emu Swamp Dam.  Emu Swamp Dam as an urban dam was ranked 5th in a list of 7 options, and Emu Swamp Dam combined urban and irrigation was ranked last.  Ahead of Emu Swamp Dam were (1) integrated water supply management (2) Connolly Dam to Stanthorpe pipeline and (3) raising Storm King Dam.  

Of course we will have to wait and see what comes out of the Regional Water Assessment program.   Public consultation on the shortlist options is expected in early 2023, with recommendations expected in the 2nd half of 2023.