Australian Government to commit $483m towards QLD Urannah Dam

Following the signing of a bilateral agreement last month, the Australian Government has announced that it will commit $483 million towards the development of the Urannah Dam in Queensland. 

This significant funding is part of the Australian Government’s 2022-23 Budget but the commitment will depend on the demonstration of value for money as well as sufficient public benefit for investment. 

“Our Government understands that building and growing our nation requires industries that produce wealth, such as the mining, agriculture and farming sectors. 

“It is these industries that earn the export dollars that will help make our country as strong as possible as quickly as possible. That’s why we have put $483 million in the bank to build Urannah Dam. 

“Our investment will further drive the development of Central and North Queensland, ensuring businesses, industries and households have the water security they need to grow into the future,” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Barnaby Joyce said. 

The proposed Urannah Dam is anticipated to have a 970-gigalitre capacity and will deliver about 200 kilometres of pipeline, unlocking 103-gigalitres of water that will help local producers to develop up to 20,000 hectares of irrigated agriculture. 

In addition, the dam is also expected to provide a secure water supply for urban use as well as in the mining and industrial sectors. 

“I have fought hard for federal funding for Urannah Dam since 2013 and I’m overjoyed that 50 per cent of the construction costs will be funded by the Coalition Government. 

“The Coalition Government knows just how vital water projects like Urannah Dam are for local industries, their workers and the communities that rely on them. 

“This transformative dam will go a long way to providing a viable water source to support 30 active projects and 71 new local projects, cementing the importance of this investment for communities of Central and North Queensland,” Federal Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry said. 

The Urannah Dam project is estimated to cost $2.9 billion and is anticipated to create more than 1,800 jobs – including 1,200 jobs during construction and up to 650 jobs once operational. 

Currently, the project is waiting for further funding to be committed by the State Government to get the gears working in the development of the Urannah Dam. 

Federal Member for Dawson George Christensen said that locals have discussed the Urannah Dam for about 50 years as it will help secure water supply as well as create new industries and jobs. 

“I’ve been fighting long and hard for this project basically since I was first elected so, now that I’m ending my time representing Dawson, it is especially pleasing to see such a strong commitment to building Urannah,” Mr Christensen said. 

Key features of the proposed Urannah Dam project include: 

• A gravity fed dam on the Broken River with water storage capacity of 970,000 megalitres 
• Water distribution network from the proposed dam north to the Peter Faust Dam and on the Bowen and Abbot Point, south to Eungella Dam and Moranbah – including water pipelines and instream distribution and storage of water with associated ancillary works, such as pump stations and power supply infrastructure 
• Irrigation precinct – an irrigated agricultural development area of up to 25,000 hectares, which includes 9,850 hectares of suitable high value cropping farm development and 12,250 hectares of improved grazing and associated in-stream and off-stream storages, trunk delivery works and on-farm infrastructure 
• Pumped hydro-electric power storage and power generation infrastructure – power generation infrastructure producing 1.4GW+ electricity supply and approximately 9GWh+ pumped storage capacity, incorporating power stations (surface and underground), dams and reservoirs, waterways and power transmission infrastructure 
• Ancillary works and infrastructure – for example, quarries and borrows, roads and access development and upgrades, site establishment areas, laydowns, site amenities and accommodation, services and utilities such as electricity and telecommunications 

Previously, the Australian Government has committed $22.65 million towards the Urannah Dam project. 

The business case for the more than $2 billion development is already underway and is expected to be completed later this year. 

Source: Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development; ABC News; The Guardian; Queensland Government – State Department, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning