STATE member for Mount Isa Rob Katter made a plea in Parliament recently for clean water for the tiny North West Queensland town of Georgetown in the Etheridge Shire Council, tabling a photo of a bath filled with dirty water.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
“No one anywhere in Australia would find this water acceptable,” Mr Katter said.
Remote and regional councils in North West Queensland were facing some of the toughest challenges since Queensland was established, he said.
“These stalwarts of the Australian economy generate the lion’s share of GDP for this great state, yet they receive the lowest share per square kilometre of the funds that they raise for the benefit of Queenslanders,” he said.
The Etheridge Shire Council, like other North West Queensland councils, needed help from every department in the government, Mr Katter said.
“The shire needs help with development opportunities for key economic development projects in the shire; help to have the most basic services provided such as nursing, a reliable telephone and internet service, safe roads and, most importantly, clean, safe water,” he said.
“The last time I raised the issue of the water supply in Georgetown, the minister responded that it was the responsibility of the council and no responsibility of his,” Mr Katter told Parliament.
“I disagree.
‘‘There is a problem with water at the moment, but the council does not have any capacity to cover it.
“Road funding for the region will be cut from $100 million to $30 million for the next three years.
“That will be a big struggle for remote and regional councils, as this funding keeps them working and viable.”
Mr Katter said about 40 per cent of houses in the Etheridge Shire were for sale or vacant. “Families are leaving town and the community cannot afford to lose even one person.”
The Etheridge Shire Council was a very frugal shire and all they needed was help with the chlorination plant, Mr Katter said.
“They have not spent on any big projects with bells or whistles in the town,” he said.
“I would not wash in that water; it is not acceptable and it needs to be fixed.”
Mr Katter said he also supported the Etheridge Shire Council’s bid for Royalties to Regions funding for an 8.8-gigalitre dam on the Delaney River that would provide a more sustainable and higher standard of water for supply to the townships of Georgetown and Forsayth.
“It’s the principle of it. This is critical infrastructure, as the township of Forsayth ran out of water in 2013. The current limited water supply is impeding growth and community sustainability,” Mr Katter said.
