Rookwood Weir unlocks additional 10,000ML for central Queensland after $15m funding boost

Sunwater and its construction partners have identified an opportunity in the design phase to raise the crest height of Rookwood Weir by 700mm, increasing the yield to 86,000 megalitres for water users.

The additional $15 million will bolster the already $352.2m Rookwood Weir funded project.

Related: Rookwood Weir gets $176.1 million funding boost

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk welcomed the federal government's further joint contribution to the important project.

"The opportunity represents good value for money and will provide improved water security for the region and future customers, while boosting the local economy and creating more jobs in the central Queensland region," Ms Palaszczuk said.

"With the construction phase now underway, the success of the first round of water sales tenders saw a strong market response, which bodes well for future growth in the local agricultural industry.

"I'm advised Sunwater has also had a strong response to the expression of interests for a further round of tenders to be undertaken in 2022, so raising Rookwood Weir now makes good sense."

"Water is critical for economic growth and this is especially important as we continue to recover from the impacts of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

"Projects like Rookwood Weir will attract jobs to our regions and we will see more growth and more investment as a consequence."

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said investing in Rookwood Weir shows the federal government's commitment to developing regional communities.

"As well as providing a critical economic boost as we recover from the global pandemic, the project will increase water security and expand irrigated agricultural production in the Lower Fitzroy River region," Mr McCormack said.

"This is a great example of our government building the water infrastructure of the 21st century through a 10-year rolling program of priority investments, including expanding our National Water Infrastructure Development Fund to $3.5 billion in the 2020-21 Federal Budget.

"This is all about increasing water security to build greater resilience in our regions as we create more jobs and see continued growth in our agriculture sector, while supporting and investing in regional communities through drought, bushfires, floods and COVID-19."

In January this year, the state government announced construction had begun at the workers camp for Rookwood Weir, which will house up to 250 staff in Gogango, 68 kilometres south-west of Rockhampton.

Related: Construction underway for Rookwood Weir workers camp in Gogango

Queensland Water Minister Glenn Butcher said the decision would also have more immediate flow on effects for job creation in the region.

"Raising Rookwood Weir means that the Foleyvale bridge and its approach roads will also be upgraded to accommodate the greater level of inundation," Mr Butcher said.

"This upgrade will add another 15 full time jobs on top of the 100 jobs already created for essential road and bridge upgrades, and the 200 jobs which will be created to build the weir itself.

"At least 140 of those jobs will be sourced locally - a big win for the regional economy."

The Rookwood Weir project will provide for more than 200 jobs during construction - with at least 140 of these to be sourced from central Queensland, with construction is scheduled to finish in 2023.