Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning
The Honourable Jeff Seeney
New powers needed to resolve Mary Valley bungle
Special powers may be needed to clean up the mess left behind by the Bligh Labor Government in the Mary Valley.
Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, Jeff Seeney, is preparing a submission for Cabinet as he works to resolve the bungled finances and land buy-up by the Beattie and Bligh Governments in their failed bid to build the Traveston Dam.
Mr Seeney said the web of incompetence left by Labor had proven to be more complicated than first thought.
“It’s hard to believe just how incapable of running the State the Beattie and Bligh Governments were to have left the Mary Valley in the state it’s in today,” Mr Seeney said.
“The LNP Government may have to introduce legislation to bypass planning land sales policies, just to unravel the problems.
“There are complex leases on land with some parts of properties covered by leases of up to 30 years and other parts of the sa me property covered by only short-term arrangements.
“Land parcels that rely on irrigation entitlements to make them economically viable have been separated from those water rights.
“We may have to amalgamate some holdings and de-amalgamate others.
“It’s certainly not a simple process and Cabinet will consider the matter in coming weeks.”
The Deputy Premier said the Newman Government’s aim was to find a solution as fast as possible to re-establish the Valley economy and communities.
