Proposed $2.9bn Urannah dam in Queensland could return as little as 26c per dollar

The dam's benefits have been overstated and the business case does not take environmental costs into account, economist says

A 1.5 trillion-litre north Queensland dam proposal backed by both the federal and state governments could return as little as 26c for every dollar invested, an economic analysis has found.

The $2.9bn Urannah dam near Mackay has been awarded coordinated project status by the Queensland government. Studies and preliminary planning work have been financed with about $15m in federal grants since 2016.