Bowen Pipeline Project Reaches Major Planning Milestone

Member for Burdekin, Dale Last MP, President of BGGA, Carl Walker, BPC Director Sean Brown, and Whitsundays Mayor Ry Collins (WRC). Photo supplied

‍

Contributed with thanks by Bowen Pipeline Company  

‍

Ministerial Infrastructure Designation approval provides greater planning certainty for proposed 182-kilometer North Queensland water pipeline  

Bowen Pipeline Company welcomes approval of the Ministerial Infrastructure Designation (MID) for the Bowen Pipeline Project by the Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development,  

Infrastructure and Planning and Minister for Industrial Relations, the Honourable Jarrod Bleijie MP.  

‍

The Decision Notice marks an important milestone for the project providing formal recognition for the proposed 182-kilometre water pipeline under Queensland’s infrastructure planning framework.  

‍

The Bowen Region produces 1/5th of Australia’s vegetables (over 250 million kilograms sold at the farm gate) and is Australia’s largest winter vegetable growing area supplying over 90% of some vegetables supplying Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide and internationally. The region has no reliable, secure water supply relying on summer rains.  

The approval provides greater planning certainty following extensive technical assessment,  

stakeholder engagement and consultation with government, Traditional Owners, landholders,  

growers, councils, industry participants and regional stakeholders.  

‍

Bowen Pipeline Company Chairman Carl Walker said the decision represented an important step forward for the project and recognised the considerable work undertaken to reach this point.  

“This is an important milestone for the Bowen Pipeline Project and for the many people who  

have contributed their time, knowledge and support along the way,” Mr Walker said.  

‍

“A significant amount of work sits behind this decision, from technical studies and planning  

through to engagement with landholders, growers, Traditional Owners, government, councils,  

industry and communities across the region.  

‍

“There is still work ahead, but the MID gives us greater planning certainty as we continue  

progressing the remaining approvals, funding pathways and development work required to  

move the project forward.”  

‍

The Bowen Pipeline Project is designed to transfer water from the Burdekin River south towards Bowen providing a reliable long-term water supply to support agriculture, industry, horticulture, aquaculture, citrus, algae, green energy and communities.  

Mr Walker said the significance of the project ultimately lies in what greater water security could make possible for the region. The project’s broader economic case centres on using reliable water infrastructure to enable greater agricultural production, investment and industry development across the Bowen-Burdekin corridor.  

‍

Preliminary economic analysis cited by Bowen Pipeline Company indicates the project has the potential to support around $300 million in annual economic output and approximately 1,200 full-time equivalent jobs when operational across agriculture, industryand regional services.  

“For growers, businesses and communities across the region, reliable access to water is  

fundamental to planning for the future. Greater water security has the potential to support  

agricultural production, encourage investment and create new opportunities for the region over  

the long term,” Mr Walker said.  

‍

“That is what we are working towards, and this decision takes us another important step  

forward.”  

‍

Early engagement with prospective water users has demonstrated strong interest in securing  

future water allocations from the Bowen Pipeline Project.  

Mr Walker said the response provided further confidence in the need for the project.  

“Over recent weeks we have seen strong interest from prospective water users and new market entrants, reinforcing both the demand for greater water security and the confidence people have in investing in the future of this region.  

‍

“Their participation is an important part of building the commercial foundation required to  

progress the project.”  

Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Minister for Manufacturing and Minister for Regional  

and Rural Development and Member for Burdekin Dale Last said reliable water supply could  

unlock significant opportunities for the region.  

‍

“Where you have water, you have opportunities. It is those opportunities that are the reason I  

support ensuring a reliable water supply for an area that offers so much untapped potential,” Minister Last said.  

“There is 100,000 hectares of arable land in the Burdekin-Bowen-Collinsville area that could be  

used for primary production if there was a reliable source of water. Whether you look at it from  

a self-sufficiency or an export perspective, that is a lot of jobs that could be created and huge  

financial benefit for the region.”  

‍

“The Crisafulli LNP government has set a target to boost Queensland’s primary production  

output to $30 Billion by 2030. To take full advantage of Queensland’s potential when it comes  

to primary production, we need to back the infrastructure the industry needs to turn potential  

into reality.”  

‍

“Approving the Ministerial Infrastructure Designation is a clear sign that the project has received a positive result during public consultation. Whilst the approval does not signal the start of construction, it sends a strong message that the Crisafulli government recognises the potential benefits and has played its part in seeing the project move forward.”  

‍