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The ultimate pipedream?

By Tom Richman - posted Thursday, 19 October 2006


It's also hoped that any debate towards this end might precipitate a rational discussion on agricultural water use generally and whether there are some crops that just shouldn't be grown in such a dry part of the driest continent.

We also believe that the acceptance of either option (ie NSW or PNG to Brisbane) begs the question of whether any such venture should or could be implemented outside a well-funded National Water Grid framework, one that not only has the teeth to resolve regional issues but is mandated to negotiate with other sovereign nations. If we can do this for electricity, why not water?

If not now, when?

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Since 1970 this region's rainfall has been declining and has endured above average temperatures in 11 out of the last 13 years. Together this has led to a dramatic reduction in dam levels, all at a time when demand is increasing from both residential and commercial users. With this in mind, you don't have to be an Al Gore or Tim Flannery to argue that one of these schemes should be implemented within the decade, not the 30-100 years now being considered for the Burdekin to Brisbane option, and goodness knows what extended timeline on the PNG to Brisbane option.

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First published in the Spring 2006 issue of King's Counsel, the biannual newsletter of King & Co Property Consultants.



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About the Author

Tom Richman, writes and edits the King's Counsel, a biannual newsletter of King & Co Property Consultants. He holds a BA, MA and M. Phil (Oxon) and is a member of the Property Council of Australia (QLD), the Infrastructure Association of Queensland as well as the Brisbane Development Association.

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