One of the negative comments advanced against such vision relates to the capital cost - where is the money going to come from? Will the government (taxpayer) have to fund it?

Actually there is a very effective way to fund required capital works of the proposed type that was first shown to us by the US railroad barons. They bought up all the land within reach of their planned railroads, then sold off half the land on a chequerboard pattern (I think of square mile lots) at a price reflecting the coming rail access. The funds were then used to develop the railroads.

The same principle could be applied here. Purchase all the land first for current value (or negotiate with current owners), then sell part of that land with water rights to farmers, agricultural companies and the like. By this means the required capital can be sourced from equity market or corporate sources without recourse to the taxpayer

Great to see some vision for the north. The North Australian Task Force report was a depressing farce.

All the governments have to do is get out of the way.

I wonder has anyone investigated the feasibility of putting some of the stored water back into the Great Artesian Basin or one of the other large aquifers.

Projects such as these also require large amounts of transport infrastructure. As seen on Landline this week, this seems to be a limiting factor just as much as water. My trip through the North last year, showed the roads to be fairly good, but an extensive rail network would also be needed to do justice to such a scheme. Also, who is going to build the new atomic power station(s) to provide the necessary energy for all the water pumps and train locomotives.

David

The problem is that to feed the world you might put in danger some tadpole that is close to extinction. How could you possibly consider this. And then these waters are more than likley to become sacred!. Oh we won't go there. Just let people starve.

Runner, that is a very Christian attitude to take. Perhaps a more pragmatic approach would be to draw a line west from Townsville and sell everything north of that to the Indians or the Chinese and let them work it all out for themselves.

David

Great post.
I really can't understand why proposals like this haven't happened before , I guess the Ord River scheme must have put a damper on such thinking , how times change ! People even in developed societies are starving big problem is they are broke , USA and UK for example extraordinary populations of people who will never be employed.How do we get people to staff your proposals out there in the sticks 100 deg all day all night with the Dingoes, Ticks & Snakes 200 Klm's to the nearest Pub.
Maybe the US & UK might be interested in Financing and Staffing your proposals liberating many of their 20th century Convicts.

Tully Flinders Gilbert rivers would not ring any bells for 90% of our people a draft like yours needs a Map from it they can catch your Vision.