The Australian Government has set up a dedicated North Queensland Water Infrastructure Authority to help deliver projects including the Hughenden Irrigation Scheme and Hells Gates Dam.

Announcing the move, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the development potential of North Queensland was enormous and the government was deeply committed to delivering through its investments in major water infrastructure projects.

“As well as $54 million for Hells Gates Dam and $182 million for the Hughenden Irrigation Scheme, we have also committed $176 million for Rookwood Weir, $11 million for the Mareeba-Dimbulah Water Supply Scheme and $3 million for the Nogoa Mackenzie Water Supply Scheme,” he said.

“The new North Queensland Water Infrastructure Authority will be an executive agency responsible for strategic planning and progressing the business cases for both schemes. Ensuring information sharing among relevant regulatory authorities and keeping me and the Government closely informed of planning and construction works will be another key task.”

The Australian Government is investing more than $3 billion to identify and build new water infrastructure to secure water supplies across Australia.

It has committed a further $500 million for a National Water Infrastructure Development Fund, for which Expressions of Interest are open to State and Territory governments until April 1.