A Queensland businessman has signed a deal with the Papua New Guinea government to look at piping fresh water 3000km to Australia.
Fred Ariel says the plan would satisfy a huge demand for water there.
He wants to build a $30 billion pipeline from the highlands of PNG to south-east Queensland.
The ABC reports he has signed an agreement with the PNG government to conduct a feasibility study.
Mr Ariel says the plan is feasible and would solve Queensland's water woes.
Despite the construction costs, he believes it would be cheaper than desalination plants and water recycling.
"The advantage that this project has is the sheer volumes of water available," he said.
"It's available all year round. It doesn't require expensive dams."
Mr Ariel says the pipeline could provide six gigalitres per day for consumption, irrigation or pumped into the Murray-Darling river system.
