THANK YOU Dominic and Sir Graham McCamley for once again raising the big issue of the dam.

This is something that has been talked about before, but nothing done.

Rockhampton has much to thank Rex Pilbeam for.

He was a man of vision and future planning and we benefit from the work he did.

Putting in levee banks would be like putting a band-aid on a gaping wound. Instead of treating our mighty Fitzroy like a problem and our floods as disasters - let us look at the positive points.

With a dam at the Gap we would assure future generations of water supply for homes and business.

Our producers could be confident in growing food for local consumption and sale.

Our precious fresh water would not be lost into the ocean causing damage to the salt water eco system.

Having recently returned from a trip to WA and NT I think that C.Q. could learn a lot from what has been done there.

The Ord River scheme has completed Stage 1 and is currently implementing Stage 2 with Stage 3 still to come.

Already the impact of this water supply, hydro-electricity supply, and tourism increase has the whole area buzzing and set for amazing growth.

Darwin has been flattened twice.

They have used these disasters to re-build and develop a new and exciting city.

A Museum displays the history of the bombing, Cyclone Tracey, local industries plus wildlife and local artists.

Rockhampton has a history of floods which could be used as a centre point for a similar museum.

Our local industries could be featured and the history from early Archer Brothers settlement to the current could be displayed.

We have an Information Centre on Gladstone Road, right on the Tropic of Capricorn which is under developed.

This could be leased out and run as a Café for the many visitors who stop there, giving them the opportunity to gather more information on local spots to visit.

It is time Rockhampton started promoting itself - with leaders who can look outside the square.

Elaine Jones

Gracemere