Source: Australian Associated Press

Coalition senators are pushing for a senate inquiry into the controversial Traveston Dam proposal, designed to secure future water supplies for south-east Qld.

Coalition senators are pushing for a senate inquiry into the controversial Traveston Dam proposal, designed to secure future water supplies for south-east Queensland.
The Beattie government plans to build the Traveston Crossing Dam on the Mary River near Gympie, 160km north of Brisbane, at a cost of more than $1.7 billion.

The dam is a key project in the government's statewide water grid to tackle the worst drought on record, but has attracted bitter opposition.

Nationals Senate leader Ron Boswell gave notice of a motion he plans to introduce to the Senate on February 26, with the support of fellow Queenslander Barnaby Joyce and Liberal Senator Russell Trood.
The senators are concerned about the decision making processes in selecting the site of the proposed dam and want the matter referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs.

"The inquiry would look at alternative sites and costings as well as the social, environmental, engineering and economic impacts of the Traveston Dam," Senator Boswell said. It would allow the people of the Mary Valley to finally have a say on the issue, he said.

"While the inquiry cannot interfere with the approval or commencement of any project, it will be the first and best opportunity for affected communities to have the whole issue thoroughly investigated and exposed to the light of day," Senator Boswell said. Senator Joyce said the huge cost of the dam defied logic and there were better alternatives.

"I acknowledge fully that a senate inquiry cannot stop the dam but it can provide the truth which will make obvious what a criminally extravagant waste of money the current Traveston Dam proposal is," he said.
Greens leader Bob Brown said he would support the motion, as the dam would threaten the Mary River ecosystem and farmlands south of Gympie.

"The dam's threat to flood prime food-growing lands as well as the habitat of rare and endangered species, such as the Queensland lungfish and Mary River turtle, would be studied by the Senate committee if it gets enough backing," Senator Brown said.

The Australian Democrats will also support the inquiry motion. "I am very pleased that this proposed inquiry would be broad enough to examine alternatives beyond destructive dam options in order to secure south-east Queensland's water supply," Democrats senator Andrew Bartlett said.