Nathan Dam Inundaion Area
Map © Wildlife Queensland/Gioscience AustraliaBackground
The construction of the proposed Nathan Dam has been on and off the agenda since the late 1920’s. In 2003, the construction of the proposed Nathan Dam and the use of its waters for agricultural, industrial, urban and environmental purposes was a test case of environmental impact statements under the Commonwealth Environmental Biodiversity and Protection Act. In December 2003, a decision was handed down that prevented the proposed construction of the dam at that time. The Commonwealth Government and the Queensland Government having been given leave to join appealed the decision unsuccessfully in 2004. The proposed Nathan Dam issue surfaced again in 2006 when the Central Queensland Regional Water Supply Strategy identified Nathan Dam as the preferred short to medium term water supply solution. The Statewide Water Policy committed $120M towards this and in December 2007 the project was included in the Program of Works subject to the necessary approvals.
In 2007, SunWater was appointed as proponent to develop a business case. Time moved on and, together with the impact of the Global Financial crisis, it appears government funding was withdrawn but SunWater was committed to the project and continued to fund the project itself. Currently it is full steam ahead with the EIS. Within the foreseeable future, SunWater will be in a position to determine if the proposed construction will be earth-filled, their current preference, or reinforced concrete. Once that decision is taken, the EIS is scheduled for completion by the end of 2010, making it available for public comment early in 2011.
Conservation Threats
Early in 2009, the Terms of Reference for the project was released but soon after, the Dam feasibility project was suspended due to the potential impacts on the boggomoss snail. SunWater was very conscious of the boggomoss snail, a critically endangered species, and appreciated that one of the few known colonies would be inundated should construction of the dam proceed. Allegedly other colonies of this snail were located by chance and SunWater engaged consultants in an attempt to locate other colonies. It appears that some success was achieved. SunWater is not in a position to make the consultant’s reports available for critical peer review as the report is deemed to be an interim report that may require further refinement. However the report has been accepted by the Commonwealth and the proposed relocation trials of the snail are no longer required. SunWater have this in writing.
This advice conflicts with that provided to Wildlife Queensland by the Commonwealth Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts in December 2009. One area of confusion is clarified. However SunWater appreciates that the boggomoss snail is still listed and an approved Recovery Plan exists. The Commonwealth Minister cannot approve any project that cannot demonstrate that it does not conflict with an approved Recovery Plan.
Apart from the Boggomoss snail the area that will be inundated supports threatened regional plant communities and threatened plants, birds, mammals, reptiles and insects. Highly significant plant communities include semi-evergreen vine thickets, brigalow and blue grass communities. However the coolibah and blue gum riverine communities are of major concern. SunWater is very aware of the riverine plant communities that will be impacted and the need to provide offsets. SunWater has not addressed how these offset requirements will be met as yet but appreciates that it will present a challenge. It will be extremely difficult if not impossible to provide appropriate offsets as they simply do not exist within the region.
Alternative Water Strategies
The mounting challenges of the Nathan Dam project and the rapid expansion of the coal seam gas industry and the resulting significant volumes of associated waters focussed SunWater’s attention and resulted in an innovative project. That project is the Surat Dawson Integrated Water Project (SDIWP) that incorporates the Nathan Dam and Pipelines project and the Associated Water Pipelines project. SunWater is in the water business providing services from bulk water. This project is an opportunity for beneficial use of associated coal seam gas waters to meet demand for urban and industry purposes. It is intended to use these waters until demand exceeds supply and then Nathan Dam would be constructed (assuming all approvals have been obtained) to supplement associated waters and maintain guaranteed volumes.
The Associated Water Pipelines project will provide an effective water transport solution for the coal seam gas producers. It will assist in ensuring the beneficial use of these waters. Wildlife Queensland is not opposed to the concept of beneficial use of these waters, but the devil is always in the detail. Some of the proposed beneficial uses of such waters by various companies are strongly opposed by Wildlife Queensland. There are many aspects of this Associated Water Pipelines project that appeals to Wildlife Queensland but total unqualified support cannot be given at this time. Use of waters for urban purposes is not opposed and the use of these waters by industry is preferable to alternative sources. There are a range of issues that require further clarification prior to a firm position on discharge to creeks and streams being developed. This Associated Water Pipelines project has a significant benefit in deferring the construction of the proposed Nathan Dam and hopefully it will never see the light of day.
It would be foolish not to appreciate that there are a lot of hurdles SunWater has to overcome with the coal seam gas associated waters side of the project. However there is every good reason to believe that SunWater will be successful and construction of the proposed Nathan Dam may be deferred for at least 20 years. In the interim, hopefully the government of the day will appreciate that dams are last century’s answer to water supply needs. Wildlife Queensland’s view is that one new dam is one too many.
What Wildlife Queensland is doing:
Wildlife Queensland:
- remains totally opposed to the construction of the Nathan Dam.
- continues to liaise with the proponents and the Office of the Premier on this matter.
- takes opportunities as they present to advocate in the media our opposition to the dam.
- will make a submission if the EIS is released for public comment.
- continues to work closely with the local Upper Dawson WPSQ Branch in an attempt to confine the proposed Nathan Dam to the same scrapheap as the Traveston Crossing Dam.
Links to all the news articles.
For more information on WPSQ's campaigns, email or phone +61 (7) 3221 0194.
Last Updated June 2010 |
