Twenty-one lower Fitzroy landholders have secured a total 6000 megalitres in future water allocation following successful bids for water from the soon to be completed Rookwood Weir.
Allocations of between 10 and 500 megalitres were available, and the water will be used for a variety of primary industry purposes, from grain, fruit, and nut cropping, to supporting livestock production.
The weir now 74 per cent complete.
State Water Minister Glenn Butcher said 50 per cent of the water from Rookwood Weir would be used for agricultural purposes, to allow farmers and businesses to expand or diversify their operations.
“With the completion of the second tender, this landmark project is now another step closer to providing long-term water security for Central Queensland,” he said.
Strong interest from across the region resulted in 21 successful bids, with 6082 megalitres sold from an available 7500 megalitres.
Sunwater will now determine how best to make the unsold water available for future sale.
Finalisation of the second tender follows the successful completion of the first stage of the process in December 2020, which provided 30,000 megalitres.
As part of their submissions, tender two applicants were required to demonstrate how their use of the water will contribute to the local economy.
Prior to the tender, several local farmers took part in the $1.2 million Landholder Support Program facilitated by Advance Rockhampton, to help them prepare their submission.
Rockhampton MP Barry O’Rourke said Rookwood Weir had already provided a significant economic boost – with more than 300 construction jobs and numerous flow-on benefits for local businesses and suppliers.
“Now, the water from the weir will add further value with more agricultural jobs and supply chain opportunities, while allowing farmers to transition to higher-value crops,” he said.
Rockhampton Mayor Tony Williams said Rookwood Weir was proving to be a big significant driver of economic growth and jobs in the region.
“Council has worked closely with Sunwater through the Rookwood Weir Landholder Support Program to help local landowners develop business plans and take part in the tender process,” he said.
“With our region already seeing the benefits of the first tranche of Rookwood’s water sales through new investments and initiatives; we are excited to see the outcomes that will be delivered from this latest round of water sales.”
Sunwater CEO Glenn Stockton said they would work with successful bidders in coming months to ensure they had the tools, information, and water infrastructure they need to access water from Rookwood Weir.
“The project team is making great progress on-site, with day and night concrete pours continuing for the weir’s foundations, abutments, monoliths and spilling basins,” he said.
“We remain on track for construction to be finished later this year, weather permitting.”
Federal Environment and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek it was great to see the second stage of water sales concluded.
“Extra water allocations of 6000 ML will unlock further agricultural opportunities across Central Queensland,” she said.
Ms Plibersek said water is one of our country’s most precious resources.
“The Albanese Labor Government knows how vital the nearly completed Rookwood Weir project is to delivering water security to support economic growth in Central Queensland,” she said.