The newly released NuWater Project Feasibility Study has outlined potential opportunities to meet substantial water demand for agricultural production in the Lockyer Valley and Darling Downs.
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The Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF), on behalf of an unofficial consortium of Queensland agricultural industry organisations including Growcom, undertook the NuWater Project to find ways to improve Moreton Bay water quality and increase the capacity of agriculture in the Lockyer Valley and Darling Downs.
The feasibility study was carried out to test the viability of using recycled water from the South-East Queensland Western Corridor Recycled Water Scheme (WCRWS). A Preliminary Business Case was then established after engaging with international consulting firm GHD.
Although the Preliminary Business Case revealed the Project was not financially viable, it provided some direction for potential changes in current policy that would improve its economic practicality.
The information within the Feasibility Study could be invaluable for government and private stakeholders to plan better use of existing water infrastructure to improve agriculture in south and southeast Queensland.
If progressed to completion, the Project would provide up to 84,680 megalitres per year of irrigation water to agriculture and industry west of Brisbane on both sides of the Great Dividing Range, and reduce up to 84,680 megalitres annually which is the amount of treated wastewater being released into the Brisbane River and Moreton Bay.
On-farm production would also be increased by up to $500 million over the life of the Project, or approximately $64 million per annum, with flow-on impacts for regional communities.
Growcom is proud to support the NuWater Project and will continue to work with key industry bodies to address the growing global population’s demand for Australian-grown fresh produce.
The NuWater Project Feasibility Study was supported by funding from the Australian Government National Water Infrastructure Development Fund, an initiative of the Northern Australia and Agricultural Competitiveness White Papers.
For more information about the NuWater Project, visit https://www.qff.org.au/projects/nuwater/
