“We can’t do it on our own.” Mount Morgan seeks end to 20 years of water troubles
Richard Dinnen - Queensland Editor |
Rockhampton Regional Council wants the Federal and State governments to help fund a reliable water supply to the historic central Queensland town of Mount Morgan.
The town’s 3,000 residents have lived with water supply problems for 20 years. Emergency restrictions have been in place since March 2021, due to an ongoing drought which has depleted the main supply, the Number 7 dam, two kilometres from the town.
Water is currently being trucked to the town 20 times a day, which costs Rockhampton Council $5 million a year.
Mayor Tony Williams said trucking water is not sustainable, but Council will need help to fund a long-term solution.
“This is a critical infrastructure project but, at a cost of more than $48 million to deliver, it’s one that Council doesn’t have the budget to deliver on its own.
“We need other levels of government to step up and help us provide water security for this historic township.”
The Council has approved a business case to build a pipeline connecting Mount Morgan to the water supply at Gracemere, about 30 kilometres away, where more water storage and a pump station would be built.
It will use the business case to approach the Federal and Queensland governments for funding.
Divisional Councillor Cherie Rutherford commended the Mount Morgan community for their resilience in the face of strict water restrictions.
“They’ve lived with water supply issues over the past 20 years. Since March 2021, they’ve been on the highest level of water restrictions and relying on a carted water supply from Gracemere.
“The situation is unsustainable and unfair for the residents of Mount Morgan, which is why we are lobbying other levels of Government to step up and help out in this dire situation.”
