POTABLE water supply, communications, irrigation, local road funding and local workers for works contracts dominated conversations with Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter during a trip to the Gulf Country late last month.
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Mr Katter described the Gulf Country as “truly God’s country” after his trip but was concerned that the area was still facing a significant number of potentially debilitating issues, with funding for infrastructure projects largely uncertain.
During the trip to the Gulf of Carpentaria this week with Member for Mount Isa Robbie Katter, the pair met with local councils, business groups, local progress associations, business owners and northern cattlemen about the issues facing the far-flung north, including funding for infrastructure projects remaining largely uncertain.
In Normanton, the Carpentaria Shire Council’s proposal to build a weir to secure their water supply will cost $12 million.
Georgetown has proposed the Charleston Dam Project, which at $20 million would service water for both Forsayth and Georgetown. The council is prepared to contribute 70 per cent of their rates income, a sign of the significance of the project to the towns.
But both of these projects require a significant amount of further funding from government to get them off the ground and council’s small rate-payer base makes it difficult for them to raise significant capital.
“Our towns are grossly short of water and you can’t have a town without a water supply,” Bob Katter said.
“The situation is critical in the Gulf, in Normanton, Karumba, Croydon, Forsayth and Georgetown to name a few. And it’s well known that Forsayth had to cart water in last year.
“The water schemes have to be addressed and have to be addressed now. All of these towns have got shovel-ready projects ready to go.
“Every water scheme in Queensland has in the past been overwhelmingly paid for by government. To let these little places starve and go short of water is near enough to criminal negligence.
“They’re talking about Northern Development, well people are galloping away from these Gulf towns because there’s not even enough water to keep the people here.
“And if we abandon the Gulf, do you think the rest of the world is just going to leave this land empty? As sure as the sun rises tomorrow, a people without land will look for a land without people.”
Mr Katter said communications in the Gulf was also dire, and placed the blame squarely on privatisation. “We said, when you privatise Telstra, there’ll be no services at all, and that’s exactly what’s occurred. “Privatisation enabled the government to walk away from a responsibly that they’ve had to people in the country since this nation began. “The Gulf towns are screaming out for communications, businesses can’t compete with their city rivals without them.
