Community & Business
30 April, 2026
State pauses pipeline as drought arrives
Toowoomba to Warwick pipeline paused
Remember the fanfare around the announcement of the Toowoomba to Warwick pipeline? It’s now the Toowoomba to Toowoomba pipeline. Minister for Water Ann Leahy announced that “stage two” of the pipeline, from Greenmount to Warwick, is paused and will only be built “when it is required”.
The move by the state government is extremely confusing: it seems sudden, without clear grounds, ignores the current drought conditions, comes weeks after the Premier promised water security for the Southern Downs, and has the support of MP James Lister.
While the Mayor and almost every councillor have expressed shock and disappointment by the sudden decision, MP James Lister has called it a “commonsense approach by the Crisafulli Government”. Mr Lister also told the Town & Country Journal that Mayor Hamilton and he were “briefed together by the minister in person late last year”.
“The people of the Southern Downs having been asking for certainty for years, and this announcement delivers the fiscally responsible solution that we need now and into the future,” Mr Lister stated in the same press release in which Minister Leahy said the Southern Downs is at “low risk” of not meeting “restricted demand in the foreseeable future”.
Minister Leahy’s announcement was tabled with other correspondence in the last ordinary meeting of council last week. “I saw red when I saw it [Leahy’s letter],” Cr Cynthia McDonald said in chambers. “I think the minister needs to strap on a pair of boots and come to our region.” Cr McDonald pointed out that drought is already here.
“We are, without doubt, on the doorstep of a drought if we do not see rain very soon. So, please, Minister, feel free to come over to our region and take a look at how we are sitting and have a look at how our rural producers are doing at the moment because we are doing it very tough.”
Cr Harslett asked “what triggers are we waiting for? We’re already on permanent water restrictions. We’re already worried about water.” Crs Pidgeon, Deane and Richters shared similar sentiments. Cr Bartley asked how council would pay for the pipeline and pointed out that Toowoomba residents pay “phenomenal” water rates since their pipeline was built.
Cr Wantling said council should look at “all options” without defining any.
It is not only the pipeline; the original water security package included things like the connection of the Allora bore to the Warwick Treatment Plant and the clear water tank at Leslie Dam. Those projects are worth millions of dollars and are critical to the Southern Down’s drought plan. Whether they are still included or not is not yet clear.
Furthermore, council would like to ensure that if it is going to become stage one and stage two, that the state does carry out the entirety of the preliminary work so that the pipeline could be delivered quickly if needed.
Minister Leahy’s advice to the SDRC comes on the heels of the state government examining a Warwick to Stanthorpe pipeline. Since Stanthorpe is more vulnerable to water shortages, this may be the state’s priority.
MP Lister supports building Emu Swamp Dam (see Mr Lister’s letter to the editor, this edition). He has posted on social media that the proposed Warwick to Stanthorpe pipeline is a “sick joke” of council’s, only being pushed to “stop Emu Swamp Dam”. The proposed pipeline has nothing to do with council but is part of the Queensland State Government’s Regional Water Assessment plan.
The uphill Warwick to Stanthorpe pipeline, Mr Lister told the paper, would come at a huge cost and not benefit growers. Mayor Hamilton calls the outcome “disappointing”.
“We remain committed to working closely with the Queensland government to determine the appropriate triggers that will inform a future government decision to construct state two,” Mayor Hamilton said.
Sudden change of direction
Oddly, on March 27, Minister Leahy, together with Treasurer David Janetzki, announced “Toowoomba to Warwick pipeline to be delivered”.
“The Toowoomba to Warwick pipeline complements significant drought resilience works that have been completed by the Crisafulli Government including upgrades to surrounding water treatment systems and upgrades to the pumps at Leslie Dam which increased its usable water capacity by 1700ML”.
“We’re delivering certainty for the Toowoomba and Southern Downs regions and getting important projects back on track after a decade of Labor neglect,” Treasurer Janetzki commented.
The pipeline was originally announced by the Palaszczuk government with $370 million in funding.
What else is at risk?Two other major water projects that the region was depending on for drought resilience were part of the Toowoomba to Warwick project. These included $80 million funding to connect the Allora bore to the Warwick water treatment plant, which provides an additional year’s supply to Warwick’s water network. There was also $40 million for the Warwick reservoir which is also now in question.
