The proposed Connors River dam and pipelines project includes construction of a storage capacity of 373.5 billion litres and a 133km pipeline to Moranbah.

SunWater chief executive Peter Boettcher said the EIS approval was subject to strict conditions including detailed ongoing monitoring and reporting requirements to mitigate the environmental, economic and social impacts associated with the project.

The EIS process lasted about two years and included an assessment of SunWater’s EIS document, reviews and submissions by the community and a supplementary EIS document with associated materials in response to those submissions where appropriate.

“SunWater sees the resolution of the EIS as an important milestone for the project and should the project ultimately satisfy all conditions, it will deliver a secure and reliable water supply to the Bowen Basin and surrounding regions,” Boettcher said.

He said the approval gave SunWater confidence to progress commercial discussions with its customers, major suppliers and the project financiers.