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Community really does give a dam: Bowen River Utilities

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Bowen River Utilities, Media Release, 7 November 2022

‘Overwhelming relief’ was the reaction from locals this week when the proponents of the Urannah Dam travelled to personally speak with them and reassure them that the Urannah project was still going ahead.

Director John Cotter who was in Collinsville for one of Bowen River Utilities’ regular community information meetings said the project continues to receive wide-reaching support in North Queensland.

“We have consulted with local and traditional Landowners, business operators and all levels of government over many years and we continue to be buoyed by the backing of regional residents,” he said.

The Bowen River Utilities team met many locals including Mayors and regional land and water groups. The job creation opportunities and the enormous boost that the project will bring to struggling businesses when construction finally commences, was also a big topic when talking about the many benefits of the Urannah Dam. 

“We are very proud to be the first proponents to thoroughly and dutifully consult with the community and we reassured our thousands of supporters across North Queensland that we will reapply for federal budget funding in next years’ budget,” said Mr Cotter.

“The capital funding announced by the former Government allowed us to fast track the project with confidence, however we have now reverted back to our original timeline.

“Before our capital funding was announced in the March 2021 Budget our funding application with the National Water Infrastructure Development Fund was already significantly progressed and we will now continue that process. Since our original NWIDF application we’ve taken significant steps forward in terms of our commercials and environmental approvals, putting us in an ideal position to continue discussions with the new entity for funding water infrastructure projects.

“Our project will continue to attract investment from the private sector given our unique mix of food, water and energy that our project delivers our great state as well as nationally and internationally.

“We made a commitment to the locals that we would build this Dam and that commitment stands,” said Mr Cotter.

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