Hamilton Plains wet weather flooding
During the recent wet weather, the Whitsunday community once again felt the impacts of Hamilton Plains flooding, delaying emergency services, families, students and tourists from their daily activities.
Funding for flood immunity works for Hamilton Plains has been available since 2019 and yet instead of any action all we have seen from the State Labor Government is excuses and delays. Tenders for the project closed 7th March last year and with construction meant to have started mid last year we are still to receive a proper explanation from the Government as to why construction hasn’t begun.
In 2021 the Palaszczuk/Miles Government stripped $16m from the project, reducing it to a $21m project and delaying the project. In 2022 the project was further delayed when the Government decided that they needed to take a coordinated approach to addressing the flood resilience of Myrtle Creek, Hamilton Plains and Goorganga Plains together. The stated reason behind the delays in 2023 was because the State Government was awaiting the outcome of the Australian Government’s Infrastructure Investment Review.
It is now 2024 and despite the Australian Government responding to the Infrastructure Review on the 16th November 2023, the State Government is still blaming the review as the reason we are still seeing delays with this project.
And with the review listing the Hamilton Plains project and the Shute Harbour Road duplication projects as one project it raises concerns that there are plans to delay the Hamilton Plains Project even further.
Once again I have written to the Minister requesting he provide the community with an honest update on the status of the project and whether it has been delayed again or have been permanently shelved. I am yet to receive a response.
I am calling on the Whitsunday community to join me in sending the Government a message by signing my petition for no more delays for Hamilton Plains at www.nodelays.com.au
It is time for no more delays. We need to fix Hamilton Plains now!