Mega resort water queried
LOCAL Member Lawrence Springborg has demanded transparency over the Department of Environment and Resource Management’s decision to grant Cherrabah Homestead 960mgl of water earlier this year.
In an original decision, Joyful View Garden Real Estate, which owns Cherrabah and is planning the construction of a mega resort almost the size of Stanthorpe, received an allocation of 50mgl of water per year for 10 years.
After an appeal process by nearby landowners as well as the proponents (who asked for 55mgl), DERM granted almost double the original allocation, giving 96mgl per year for 10 years.
LATE last week Mr Springborg tabled a question in parliament to Minister Kate Jones asking for “all documents relating to assessment criteria used to justify this significant increase”.
He said he was “not very impressed with the assessment process with the water” and suggested there was some internal dissatisfaction with the way the allocation issue was handled.
“I’m not sure if we’ll get to the bottom of it,” Mr Springborg said.
Planning approval for the resort was granted at council earlier this month but the Federal Government is still assessing the environmental impact of the development on quolls living in the area.
More in tomorrow’s Daily News.
