Bradfield Scheme

WITH Queensland in flood and southern Australia hit by drought and bushfires, independent Federal MP Bob Katter has again called for the north's abundant water supplies to be diverted.

The MP for the large north Queensland seat of Kennedy also said the diversion of water could be achieved without the need for a major pipeline.

It could be achieved with a small number of dams and some channels to direct part of what flows into the ocean back to the inland plain, Mr Katter said.

"God was good for us. Most of that rain falls above 2,000 feet. The inland plain is 900 feet," he said.

"The time has come now when the government has to spend money ... to seriously look at this situation.

"For our nation to continue to accept this maldistribution of nature is a very poor reflection upon every single one of us."

The idea is not new. In 1933, John Bradfield, who designed and supervised construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, proposed diverting north Queensland rivers to irrigate central Australia.

The so-called Bradfield Scheme is routinely cited as a solution to the nation's water shortages.

Victorian Nationals MP Darren Chester wasn't enthusiastic.

"Bob has a lot of ideas and that's just another one of them," he said.

AAP