Etheridge Shire Council has accused the Queensland Government of turning its back on 80 Forsayth residents who are less than six weeks away from running out of water.
Etheridge Shire Mayor Will Attwood said the issue had been raised in Parliament by MP Robbie Katter but was dismissed as a council responsibility with no assistance offered.
“We know it is our responsibility but we had hoped the Government would offer some assistance in the interim,” he said.
“It’s disappointing. When the same thing happened in Brisbane they spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to fix the issue quickly. We want the same acknowledgement for our people.”
A long, hot and dry summer with little rain combined with a devastating fire season has caused a significant drop in water supplies.
Water will be delivered to Forsayth in coming weeks, offering some relief until a dam can be built to support the area.
Councillor Attwood said Council plans for a dam at Charleston, six kilometres from Forsayth, were already well underway, with development hoped to be completed by the 2014 wet season.
The dam is expected to cost up to $10 million.
“This project is already well underway but in the meantime we run the risk of Forsayth going dry,” Cr Attwood said.
“A dam will bring some peace of mind to both Forsayth and Georgetown but we’ll definitely need the Government on–side to make it a reality.”
