State opposition - Beattie's scam about the dams ...

Excerpt from press release by Qld Coalition:

10 May 2006

The Beattie Labor Government has proposed building dams at two sites they know will not stack up to try and create an impression they are doing something about the water crisis they have created, the Queensland Coalition said today.

During State Parliament this week, the Coalition has attacked the Beattie Labor Government over its proposals to build dams at Traveston on the Mary River and at Rathdowney near Beaudesert. State Coalition Leader Lawrence Springborg predicted the Beattie Labor Government would not build either dam, and accused the Premier of using the people of the Mary Valley and Rathdowney as “political pawns”.

“South-East Queensland faces the prospect of running out of water within the next two years and everyone now realises this crisis has been caused by the Beattie Labor Government’s failure to invest in new water infrastructure,” he said.

“The Premier has suddenly worked out the water crisis is a major political problem for him and that he needs to be seen to be doing something.

“But instead of building the dams the State Government has already bought land for and investigated, the Premier has picked two brand new dam sites designed to provoke the most community anger and affect the most people.

“The Premier knows these dam sites at Traveston and Rathdowney are unlikely to withstand scientific scrutiny but they have been chosen because the Premier doesn’t actually want to deliver any new water infrastructure, he just wants to create a perception he will.”

See - Coalition doubts Labor will build SEQ dams.