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Will the Sunshine Coast be left high and dry? |
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Written by Les Fawkes
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Monday, 14 July 2008 |
The Infrastructure minister Paul
Lucas said, “The good rain we’ve had this year on the Sunshine Coast
means stage one of the pipeline will be able to supply the water we
need through until 2011 and so the state government has delayed
building part of its water grid, instead planning to siphon 65 million
litres of water a day from Baroon Pocket Dam until late 2011.”
Because of the rainfalls that we have had since November 2007 Baroon Pocket Dam has remained about 80% full. Baroon Pocket Dam was constructed in 1988 by the Caloundra and Maroochy Water Boards and holds some 60 000 ML of water. Its primary use has been for town water supply for Maroochy & Caloundra but now is expected to boost supplies for other parts of South East Queensland.
In the scheme of things 60,000 ML of water is not a big body of water. There is also some doubt weather the recent good rain falls will continue into the medium future. Sunshine Coast mayor Bob Abbot said that he was concerned that taking water from Baroon Pocket could threaten the region’s water security.
The Queensland Water Commission has stated that their modelling shows Sunshine Coast dams could be allowed to go as low as 20% while continuing to supply Brisbane. Residents of the Sunshine Coast could be put on permanent water restrictions once the new pipeline to supply Brisbane residents is connected.
With the next election near could it be that Premier Anna Bligh and Labor Party members now are concerned about the electoral backlash over the building of the Traveston Dam and so are considering announcing that it will not be built.
Latest figures show the Sunshine Coast’s population grew from Sunshine Coast 247,200 in 2001 to 303,050 last year. In the year to June 2007, Caloundra’s population grew by 2892, to 96,140. Maroochydore’s grew 4574 to 157,238 and Noosa’s population grew 0.9%, or by 459 people, to 49,672.
All of these new people will require water thus putting more pressure on Baroon Pocket Dam. This all goes to show that the big decisions about water, land use, and infrastructure planning should be made in conjunction with regional councils and in an open environment to ensure that the best possible advice is being acted upon.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 14 July 2008 )
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