THE Palaszczuk government says at least half of the water from Rookwood Weir will be allocated to farmers.
Natural Resources Minister Anthony Lynham said under a proposed plan out for consultation today (Wednesday), the water management mechanics were in place to drive the region's growth.
"The government knows that there's an appetite for Rookwood Weir and this water will drive economic recovery and jobs in the Fitzroy region," Dr Lynham said.
Member for Keppel, Brittany Lauga, encouraged Central Queensland water users and the community to get involved in finalising the proposals, contained in a draft amendment to the Fitzroy Basin water plan.
"SunWater has had a really positive response from farmers expressing interest in the first tranche of water being offered," Ms Lauga said.
"The proposals released today set aside at least half the water for agricultural use.
"That's how we maximise the growth opportunities for agriculture and industry and the local jobs that will flow from this development."
Natural Resources Shadow Minister Dale Last said the Rookwood Weir being proposed by the Palaszczuk government was not the project Central Queenslanders were promised.
"The Palaszczuk government has build timeframes have already blown by two to three years and Labor has refused to confirm that the weir will be the full 76,000ML as promised, not the downsized 50,000ML currently being considered," Mr Last said.
"Only Labor could massively reduce the size of a new dam in the middle of a new drought before it is even built.
"The Palaszczuk government's anti-dam, anti-regions agenda is failing Queensland."
The proposals establish new water trading zones for Rookwood Weir, new water allocation groups and measures to ensure that 50pc of the water from the weir is allocated for agricultural use.
The draft amendment also protects existing agricultural and urban water users and environmental flows in the Lower Fitzroy.
The consultation process will run for six weeks, with the revised water plan promised to be in place around the time construction of the weir starts in April 2021.
The consultation period will end on September 28 and is proposed to include video conferences, phone meetings, and online submissions.
Rookwood Weir is being constructed on the Fitzroy River, 66km south west of Rockhampton. It is scheduled to be completed in 2023.
