The idea of channelling water from North Queensland rivers to southern areas including NSW, Victoria, and South Australia is being pursued again.

Terry Bowring, a chemical engineer from Sydney said the $9 billion plan would move approximately 4,000 gigalitres of water to be used for primarily for irrigation, but also domestic use in capital and regional cities, and improving environmental flows in the Murray River.

Mr Bowring pointed to the importance of maintaining the health of our food growing industry as world demand grows.

He also mentioned that 13 percent of the water that flows from the Burdekin on to the Great Barrier Reef would be taken for the scheme.

"Last year more water went to sea from the Burdekin than the Murray-Darling Basin and all city dams combined," he said. "We're only going to take that water going to sea."

The plan could also incorporate rivers as far north as Herbert River.

The Wilderness Society's Glenn Walker says the rehashed idea from 1933 is a disaster in every aspect.

"It's absolutely ludicrous and an economic and environmental disaster.

"Proponents of the idea don't understand that species and the ecology evolve to current flow conditions. If you change it you affect these species."

Mr Walker used the fishing industry as an example of how environmental and economic conditions are connected.

"In the Gulf, prawn fisheries are tightly correlated with flow. If you have good flow you get good prawn numbers.

"It's the same with the Great Barrier Reef. It has adapted to natural flow conditions and natural organisms rely on these conditions to survive.

Mr Walker said Australians need to adapt to the country's variable climate.

"We have to be proud of, and get used to its conditions. We've had a 500% increase in water take of the Murray River in recent times. We should be working with the environment not against it."

Mr Bowring says he has been in talks with Government officials about the 1800km long canal project and hopes to receive federal funding. But Mr Walker warned that "No politician should take it seriously."