Sunwater Chair Calls Costly Dam Rebuild 'Grossly Disproportionate'
The chair of Sunwater, the Queensland state water infrastructure operator, has rejected the cost of the Paradise Dam rebuild as "grossly disproportionate." The move has reopened a politically charged debate over rural water security and farming irrigation in the state.
The chairman of Queensland's public water utility Sunwater has rejected as "grossly disproportionate" the A$1.2 billion proposal for a full rebuild of the Paradise Dam. The dam, drained in 2019 because of structural damage, had been the main irrigation source for sugar cane and vegetable growers in the Bundaberg region.
Sunwater is proposing a cheaper alternative built around reinforcing the existing structure and accepting roughly half the original capacity. Local farming associations argue that a smaller dam will not meet the area's long-term irrigation needs. The Queensland state government is now preparing an economic analysis comparing the two options.
Politically, the dispute has become heated. The federal agriculture minister has warned that the decision will affect not only Bundaberg, but also Australia's national fruit and vegetable export targets. The pass-through to consumer prices is set to remain on the political agenda until Queensland's 2027 state election.
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