Dametto praises ‘game-changing’ infrastructure

A GROUNDBREAKING agreement struck between Katter’s Australian Party leader Bob Katter and Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been hailed as “a historic win” for all of North Queensland by Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto.

Mr Dametto said he was thrilled Mr Katter, the Federal Member for Kennedy, had secured Federal funding of up to $54 million for Hells Gates Dam Stage 1, Big Rocks Weir and up to $180 million for the Hughenden Irrigation Scheme.

“This is a wonderful win for all of North Queensland and proves once again that Katter’s Australian Party delivers for this region,” Mr Dametto said.
“We are going to be building dams up here for the first time in 30 years. We are going to create jobs and most importantly, we will have water security for our region for decades to come. It feels great to say that.”

In his press conference yesterday, Mr Katter was full of praise for the agreement.

“After 30 years of nothing happening, we are now moving forward,” he said.

Mr Katter said Hells Gate was a project that would generate “20,000 jobs for the North Queensland economy and supply Townsville with the most adequate and cheapest water supply of any city in Australia”.

“It will produce almost all of North Queensland’s electricity and 70 per cent of Australia’s petrol needs with zero emissions,” he said.

“But the people to thank for this are the people that have worked tirelessly and could see the dream and see the vision and never gave up. They never became cynical, they never gave up, never relaxed. They just kept the pressure on.”

Mr Dametto said yesterday’s announcement would allow his electorate of Hinchinbrook to reap the economic benefits of both game-changing infrastructure projects.

“I have no doubt there will be jobs created and a need for local suppliers to help meet the demands of both projects in the coming years,” he said.

“It’s an exciting time for North Queensland.”