Murray Darling Association Inc. T (03) 5480 3805 ABN: 64 636 490 493

[email protected] www.mda.asn.au Murray Darling Association Inc. T (03) 5480 3805 ABN: 64 636 490 493

L1, 250 Anstruther Street P.O. Box 1268 Echuca, Vic 3564

Briefing Paper: Bradfield Scheme

Tuesday 12th Nov, 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this briefing paper is to provide the MDA board with current information regarding the topic of the New Bradfield Scheme.

Background: Original The Bradfield Scheme, a proposed Australian water diversion scheme, is an inland irrigation project that was designed to irrigate and drought-proof much of the western Queensland interior, as well as large areas of South Australia.

It was devised by Dr John Bradfield (1867–1943), a Queensland born civil engineer, who also designed the Sydney Harbor Bridge and Brisbane's Story Bridge. Some people considered the plan to be lacking in scientific justification, excessively expensive, and overly optimistic.

The scheme that Bradfield proposed in 1938 required large pipes, tunnels, pumps and dams. It involved diverting water from the upper reaches of the Tully, Herbert and Burdekin rivers. These Queensland rivers are fed by the monsoon, and flow east to the Coral Sea.

It was proposed that the water would enter the Thomson River on the western side of the Great Dividing Range and eventually flow south west to Lake Eyre. An alternative plan was to divert water into the Flinders River.

More recent hybrid models of the plan have been supported by Queensland Senator Pauline Hanson and former Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, which includes '100 dams' and hydro electricity generators.

Estimates to build the Bradfield Scheme range from $15bn upward, depending on the extent of distribution system. Some leading infrastructure and financial experts believe it could be self-funding with no risk to taxpayers.

As of 11 November

In February, the NSW Nationals, including Deputy Premier John Barilaro, promised to put "$25 million on the table" to investigate building a modern version of the scheme, calling on other states and the Commonwealth to contribute.

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Queensland opposition leader Deb Frecklington last week promised that if elected in 2020, her government would commission the CSIRO to begin advanced planning through a $20 million commitment to the New Bradfield Scheme.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she was open to discussing a scaled-down approach to such a plan with Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Not directly a part of the Bradfield scheme but branching off one of the proposed tributaries to the original scheme. The recent release of the Hells Gates Dam Feasibility Study has confirmed the viability of the $5.35 billion irrigated agricultural and power project on the upper Burdekin River. The Federal Government has committed $54M towards Phase 1 of the Project which includes $30M for the first stage of Big Rocks Weir at Charters Towers – a component of the Hells Gate Project that has been championed strongly by Charters Towers Mayor, Liz Schmidt. The remaining $24M is for detailed engineering, construction, enhanced economic modelling works, environmental surety and satisfaction of cultural heritage interests quantifying the Hells Gates Dam program. This is significant as it would be both the largest dam ever built in QLD and a first to hold and divert water to a new irrigation area projected to be 50,000 hectares south west of the dam.

Strategy: Original The MDA has not considered a position on the Bradfield Scheme. However, recent rain events in North Queensland coupled with the continuing drought across large parts of the Murray Darling Basin has seen discussion on the issue reignited. The issue is often raised contemporaneously with discussion of the possible diversion of the Clarence River. Information is provided to the board by way of background briefing on that basis.

As of 11 November Whilst it as previously not been necessary for the MDA to consider a position on the Bradfield scheme or any infrastructure related to it, recent attention on the topic may mean there is opportunity for the MDA to formulate a position. With record low inflows across the Basin, heightened political pressure, and an increase in media attention including that of MDA member Paul Funnell. It is proposed that the board consider whether it would like the MDA to formulate and project a public position on the ‘New Bradfield Scheme’ or any other Infrastructure projects.

Key Facts: Original  Bradfield Scheme initially proposed in 1938.  In February 2007, the then Queensland Premier Peter Beattie urged the Federal Government to look at a modern version.  In June 2015, the Government announced the establishment of the National Water Infrastructure Development Fund (the Fund). The objective of the $500 million Fund is to: start the detailed planning and to build or augment existing water infrastructure, including dams, pipelines or managed aquifer recharge to help secure the nation’s water supplies and deliver regional economic development benefits for Australia, whilst also protecting the environment.  The Fund has two components: • a feasibility component of $59.5 million over four years from 2015–16—including approximately $30 million for projects in northern Australia—to fund, or contribute to the funding of, early scoping and feasibility assessments of infrastructure proposals; and • a capital component of $440 million over eight years from 2017–18—including up to $170 million for projects in northern Australia—to contribute towards the construction costs of infrastructure projects (with a maximum contribution of 50 per cent of such Page 2 of 3

costs).i  On 19 November 2018, the Australian Government announced an expansion of the National Water Infrastructure Development Fund by more than half a billion dollars bringing the total funding to $1.3 billion.  Barnaby Joyce has recently written an opinion piece where he supports the idea that “Australia needs the Bradfield scheme”.  Pauline Hansen’s One Nation has also released a statement o One Nation believes we need to undertake a comprehensive nation building project, known as the Hybrid Bradfield Scheme, to increase the water storage capacity of inland Australia, by building more dams and upgrading existing infrastructure, so that this additional water can be redirected towards the areas of Australia that need it the most.

As of 11 November

 Ms Palaszczuk said she didn't believe the scale of the initial scheme could work in Queensland today, but that the viability of a smaller version and potential environmental impacts should be explored.  Ms Frecklington said her party's version would be state owned, create tens of thousands of jobs, drought-proof the state and create "green and clean" energy.  Both Ms Frecklington and Mr Barilaro believe the prject to cost between $10 – 15 Billion and take roughly 10 years to complete.  The Queensland LNP suggested Instead of floodwaters being funnelled to Lake Eyre, the LNP's revised scheme would see the water travel into the Warrego River in south-west Queensland, which is a catchment within the Marry-Darling Basin.