The Lakeland Irrigation Scheme would dam the Palmer River and pump water into the Normanby Catchment for irrigated agriculture at an estimated cost of $2.5 billion. With 97% of funding from government sources, no water allocated under the current Mitchell Water Plan, and a Benefit Cost Ratio of just 0.13–0.37, its economic and environmental case is weak.
Meanwhile, the Mitchell Catchment already faces serious pressures: abandoned mines, in-stream tailings, weeds, feral animals, and climate-linked extreme weather like Tropical Cyclone Jasper. Adding a large dam on top of these risks could worsen environmental and cultural impacts and create costly stranded assets.
A smarter alternative is to invest the same $2.5 billion in catchment-wide resilience: distributed water security, repair of legacy impacts, First Nations–led water management, biosecurity, community infrastructure, and climate preparedness. This approach secures water, protects rivers and fisheries, supports communities, and builds long-term resilience without the risks of a single large dam.
What it Needs to Go Ahead
The Lakeland Irrigation Scheme is a major development and will need a number of key changes to go ahead.
An allocation in the Mitchell Water Plan, which is currently under Review
The Scheme requires the water to be pumped out of the Mitchell Water Plan area into the Cape York Water Plan area. What’s known as an inter-basin transfer. So the Cape York Water Plan would need to reflect the transfer.
Government investment of an estimated 2.5 Billion. This would likely have to come from both State and Federal sources.
Planning Changes
The current planning regulations would not enable the project in it’s entirety, so changes to local government planning would be required.
Both the FNQ Regional Plan & Cape York Regional Plan are under review, it’s not clear that the irrigation scheme in indicated in the future growth patterns of the regions.
Make a Submission
Lakeland Planning Scheme Amendment
The Cook Shire Council is proposing major amendments to the planning act to create a setting that would enable the development of the Lakeland Irrigation Scheme. With the Mitchell Water Plan, Cape York Water Plan, FNQ Regional Plan, and the Cape York Regional Plan all under review, this is preemptive step that is not reflective of good planning, and is aimed at a Master Plan with a predetermined irrigation future. CAFNEC is making a detailed submission, but your voice really matters!
Use our template
1. Click the “Download Template’ Button
2. Select ‘File’, and then ‘Download’
3. Edit with your personal notes, physically or digitally sign,
4. Send the letter via one of the following methods:
POSTAL ADDRESS: Cook Shire Council, PO Box 3, Cooktown QLD 4895
EMAIL ADDRESS: mail@nullcook.qld.gov.au
HAND DELIVER: 10 Furneaux Street, Cooktown QLD 4895
5. Send a copy to capeyork@nullcafnec.org.au
“Given the challenges identified in the DBC and the outstanding items to be resolved, including the notable issue of there being insufficient unallocated water available at the damsite, it is difficult to identify a way forward for the Project at the current time. In the DBC, the proponent has identified that the project has a high cost and comparatively low economic benefits.”
Concerns Raised by the Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water
- Water Entitlements: There is insufficient unallocated water in the Mitchell Water Plan to meet the project’s needs. The water plan expires in 2027, and while a review could increase available water, there’s no guarantee this will happen or meet the project’s full requirements.
- Geological Conditions: Geological conditions at the dam site are not fully understood, having only been investigated by a relatively small number of boreholes, but issues are possible due to the known location
of the Palmer River Fault and rock conditions that showed high water losses under testing.
- Fish Transfer Arrangements: Plans for fish transfer at the dam are not finalised. Proposed solutions include a fish lift and a flushing lock, but costs cannot be confirmed until design options are developed.
- Transfer Tunnel: Only two boreholes have been drilled along the 12 km tunnel route. This limited data raises risks for cost and timeline overruns, despite allowances in the projected costs.
- Distribution System: Changes have been made to the pipeline materials to address risks caused by the high
pressures that will occur due to the gravity transfer through the tunnel, although further consideration will be needed to determine whether the risks have been fully addressed
- Economic Viability: The project’s high construction costs and low economic benefits pose significant challenges. The benefit-cost ratio is estimated between 0.13 and 0.37, meaning only a small fraction of the capital cost will be recovered. The project does not meet cost recovery expectations and would require substantial grants and subsidies
Statement from Kwaji Warra Traditional Owners, Clan group of Western Yalanji Nation Group
For 65,000 years Kawanji Warra clan lived on our homeland within the GuGu Western Yalanji boundaries.
We stand here today to ask you to stand up with us as we stand up for the right to protect the Palmer River and the Mitchell River catchment.
We are not interested in supporting the Lakeland Irrigation Scheme or the development of a hydropower source built by SMEC, the snowy mountain electrical company, through the building of a dam at Lakeland in North Queensland.
Kawanji recognises that there is a water shortage in Northern Queensland and we are concerned for our community and for our land, our flora and our fuana. We understand that the Lakeland Irrigation Scheme will bring some quick benefits, some economic and some provision of water and electricity.
However it’s the negative effects on Yalanji people that concerns us mostly. The flooding of our landscape, the effects of erosion, and the impacts on sacred sites, sediment being washed downstream, native fish being lost to new invasive species, algae growing in our reservoirs leading to higher greenhouse gases and the disruption of ecosystems. The Palmer River connects us together. We are the headwater and feel the responsibility not to damage the river system, so the clans downstream don’t pay a heavy cost. Above all of this we Traditional Owners lose story places, sacred places and see the break down songlines.
All that identifies us as Palmer River mob. We cannot allow the irrigation scheme and dam to be built. We stand here today to ask you, Traditional Owners, Scientists and professionals to support us and our decision to say no to the Lakeland Irrigation scheme and the Palmer River dam. To support us by signing the petition and stand with us in protecting our homeland.