Labor scraps funding for Emu Swamp Dam Project

The Granite Belt community has now been left without long-term water security thanks to Labor ripping billions of dollars worth of infrastructure funding out of regional areas.

The former Coalition Government committed $126.5 million in the 20222023 Budget towards the critical drought-proofing project, which would have constructed a 12GL dam on the Severn River near Stanthorpe, as well as a 117-kilometre pipeline distribution network.

Member for Maranoa David Littleproud said the Labor Government had turned its back on the Granite Belt community and its water security needs.

“During the most recent drought, which was the worst on record, communities across the Granite Belt had to rely on water being carted in from nearby areas because local water supplies had run dry,” Mr Littleproud said.

“Over a period of 15 months, each day about 34 truckloads of water, or about 1.6 million litres of water per day, were carted into

Stanthorpe to supply the community.

“As a result, $800,000 per month was spent transporting water into the community until the drought finally broke.

“This decision is a kick in the guts for not just residents of the Granite Belt community, but also the region’s agricultural sector,” Mr Littleproud said.