Expert support for Queensland pipe link

BRINGING water from drenched Queensland down to dry Victoria would be relatively simple and definitely worthwhile, three Ballarat engineering leaders believe.Canals or pipelines could be built to bring excess water from the often-flooded northern state down to Melbourne, while other areas along the way would also benefit.New South Wales-based engineer Terry Bowring has been working with two major national construction identities on a $5.6 billion plan to send between 4000 gigalitres and 8000GL of water south each year.It would see water from the Burdekin and Gulf rivers channelled south via a canal.Now the plan has found support in the south, with the bosses of three major Ballarat building and engineering companies saying the idea has merit.Integra Group managing director Andre Agterhuis said, from an engineering perspective, it would be relatively simple to send water down from Queensland."If you can take a railway from north to south, why couldn't you do a pipeline?'' Mr Agterhuis said."From a philosophical point of view, it's well worth exploring,'' he said.Pipecon managing director Andrew Mahar said the project was definitely feasible and worthwhile."Considering 80 per cent of Australia's water falls in the north, and the southern end is the most populated area, it makes good sense to bring it from areas of high rainfall to areas of low rainfall,'' he said.But he said a pipeline would be a better option than a canal, considering the evaporation associated with open water,'' Mr Mahar said."A pipeline would ensure it doesn't interfere with farming land and is not an eyesore,'' he said.Porter Excavations managing director Tim Porter said it would be a massive challenge but, with the right people, it could be done. "It's a pity it's in northern Queensland where all the water runs out to sea,'' Mr Porter said. "We need to look at Warrnambool and the Otways, where water is also running out to sea.''