- Budget strengthening the foundations for a fresh start with new storage projects, capacity-restoring dam upgrades, continued planning for Paradise Dam, and cost of living relief for water bills.
- A two-year freeze on bulk water prices for South East Queensland residents will save families $130, while water costs will be subsidised for the Cloncurry and Gladstone regions to deliver relief you can rely on.
- Budget will boost water security for families and farmers with major capacity-restoring upgrades, new weirs and progressing Paradise Dam.
- Supporting regional and remote councils through critical water infrastructure upgrade projects with $195.6 million.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering for Queensland with major investments in capacity-restoring dam upgrades, new water infrastructure and cost of living relief in the 2026-27 Budget.
The $694.2 million Local Government, Water and Volunteers Budget is strengthening the foundations for a fresh start by building Queensland's future.
The Budget boosts water security for Queensland by investing in capacity-restoring upgrades to existing dams to deliver additional water storage equivalent to a new dam, starting with Lake MacDonald Dam and North Pine Dam.
Water storage in Queensland dams decreased by almost half a million megalitres under the former Government, due to underinvestment and lack of proper maintenance in the dam network.
The Crisafulli Government is also delivering additional water security by building new weirs along the Thomson River in Longreach, Boyne River in Mundubbera and the Baraambah Creek in Murgon.
Additional funding will progress the Water for Warrill Irrigation project, Lockyer Valley and Somerset Water Security Scheme and Emu Swamp Dam.
The Budget also includes funding to continue planning for the rebuild of Paradise Dam to support Wide Bay-Burnett agriculture and restore water security for the region's future.
Increased funding of $22 million over four years will continue to subsidise water costs for Cloncurry Shire Council and additional funding of $10 million in 2026-27 will subsidise Gladstone Area Water Board bulk water charges for Gladstone Regional Council urban customers, easing cost pressures for these communities.
Funding will also deliver critical water security projects in regional and remote Queensland communities including Wujal Wujal, Woorabinda, Cherbourg, Mossman, Mount Morgan, and Cairns.
The Crisafulli Government is turning around the former Labor Government's decade of decline after they left Queenslanders with ageing water infrastructure, a $6.5 billion cost blowout in water projects, botched dams, failing regional water security and the most expensive water bills in the nation.
Treasurer David Janetzki said the 2026-27 Budget was about delivering for Queensland with a better lifestyle through a stronger economy.
"We are delivering on our promises, with relief you can rely on through responsible decisions for now and the future, and no new or increased taxes," Treasurer Janetzki said.
"This Budget strengthens the foundations we've laid in making Queensland safer, restoring health services, delivering a place to call home for more Queenslanders, building generational infrastructure, getting the Games back on track, as well as playing our part to ease national cost of living pressures."
Minister for Local Government and Water and Minister for Fire, Disaster Recovery and Volunteers Ann Leahy said the Crisafulli Government was delivering practical investments to strengthen water security.
"This Budget continues to deliver on our key election commitments by boosting water availability and security right across Queensland through our Watertight Water Security Plan," Minister Leahy said.
"Progressing Paradise Dam and key projects across the State will help secure reliable water supply for communities, industry and primary producers well into the future.
"The former Labor Government left our communities paying the most expensive water bills in the nation. We're turning this around and playing our part to ease cost of living pressures on Queensland families and communities."
