Morrison’s green light for Queensland’s Hells Gates Dam threatens Great Barrier Reef, experts warn

There are concerns the health of the Burdekin River catchment in north Queensland could be compromised by proposed dams such as Hells Gates. The Coalition has given $5.4bn to the dam, which would be four times the size of Sydney Harbour. Photograph: Phil Copp/Getty Images

The federal government’s announcement of $5.4bn to build the Hells Gates Dam in north Queensland commits money to a project with no final business case, no environmental approvals, and which experts say could further threaten the long-term health of the Great Barrier Reef.

The prime minister, Scott Morrison, announced on Wednesday that his government would build the 2,100 gigalitre dam – about four times the size of Sydney Harbour – that could potentially support 60,000ha of new land for irrigated agriculture.