Irrigators in Central Queensland are advocating for financial contributions from Stanwell Power Station and the Gladstone Area Water Board (GAWB) towards a ratepayer-owned barrage. This initiative follows the Rockhampton Regional Council’s decision to increase water charges by $15 million over the next five years to enhance and maintain essential infrastructure.
A meeting is scheduled for today in Rockhampton, involving stakeholders from Sunwater, GAWB, Stanwell Power Station, and the irrigators. Tensions are rising as a group of dissatisfied irrigators confront two significant government-owned entities over water usage rights.
Henrik Christiansen, a macadamia farmer among the 70 irrigators along the lower Fitzroy River, expressed his frustration with the current situation, noting that both Stanwell and GAWB are utilizing water from the Fitzroy River Barrage without contributing to its upkeep. “They are essentially getting a free ride,” Christiansen stated.
The Rockhampton Regional Council owns and operates the gated barrage, while Stanwell Power Station extracts its water from the Eden Bann Weir, and GAWB sources its water from the Rookwood Weir. Both weirs are managed by Sunwater, which is owned by the state government.
The council’s planned water charge increase of approximately 20% aims to cover the significant costs associated with improving the barrage, which is currently valued at $40 million, with a potential replacement cost of $100 million. Christiansen pointed out that local ratepayers and irrigators account for nearly 49% of the water usage within the barrage system but bear the entire financial burden for its maintenance and operational costs.
Irrigators argue that the barrage is vital for the operations of both Stanwell Power Station and GAWB, as it maintains adequate river levels for pumping and prevents seawater intrusion into freshwater supplies. Stanwell has been extracting water from the barrage for 32 years, and GAWB is in the process of completing a $1 billion, 117-kilometer pipeline from the barrage to Gladstone.
According to the Rockhampton Regional Council, Stanwell utilizes about 20,000 megalitres of high-priority water from the barrage annually via the Eden Bann Weir. In response to concerns, a representative from Stanwell stated that the company covers most maintenance and infrastructure expenses for the weir per its water supply agreement, but does not take responsibility for the costs associated with the barrage itself as it purchases water from Sunwater.
Sunwater confirmed that it releases water from both weirs to support the operations of Stanwell and GAWB but clarified that this water is “not stored in the barrage.” The company did not address inquiries regarding whether it draws water directly from the barrage.
GAWB’s CEO Darren Barlow refuted the irrigators’ claims, asserting that GAWB does not utilize the barrage for storage or operational needs, relying instead on the Rookwood Weir for its water supply. He added that any water not utilized as it flows past the pump station would benefit users downstream along the lower Fitzroy River.
The meeting today will bring together representatives from the irrigators, Sunwater, GAWB, Stanwell Power Station, and the Rockhampton Regional Council. A spokesperson for the Minister for Local Government and Water, Ann Leah, confirmed the meeting’s organization, emphasizing the need to address commercial arrangements established by the previous Labor government, which reportedly did not adequately consider farming communities and resulted in some of the highest water costs in the nation.
Rockhampton Mayor Tony Williams indicated the council is collaborating with the state government to resolve the issue, aiming for a favorable outcome that benefits the council, local irrigators, and the broader region.
