Cairns Regional Council has been accused of forcing Mossman Golf Club to pay for a recycled water scheme club representatives say will bankrupt the organisation.

But Council has denied they have pressured the club and have moved to alleviate their concerns.

Club captain John Carney and former president Ian Prewett contacted the office of Federal MP Warren Entsch appealing for help "to make council see sense."

The $11 million ‘Our Water, Our Backyard’ initiative was launched in July last year aimed at ensuring sustainable water security for the Douglas region.

As part of the this program, the $5.5 million Mossman Recycled Water Scheme involved council finding customers to buy the recycled water to irrigate open spaces and recreational areas.

Mr Carney and Mr Prewett said the club had spent a number of hours in discussion with council and Federal Government representatives over the past 12 months.

During this time, they reportedly stated on a number of occasions that if the club was to be liable for any costs, it “simply could not afford” to take part.

But now, the club is under the impression it has been issued with a 17-page legal contract specifying that it will be financially responsible for the installation, ongoing maintenance and operational costs of the infrastructure, as well as the yet-to-be-determined recycled water charges.

The pair told Mr Entsch this week that the contract contradicted previous information they had been given relating to the standard of water to be supplied, and said they feared it was being rushed through to meet council’s June 30 deadline.

“The feeling we got was that the Federal Government has allocated money to encourage these types of projects and the council has taken the funding so they can spend it. They would be stupid not to,” Mr Carney said.

“But it’s being used the wrong way. They have wasted hours and hours of our time, when this is just about Val Schier trying to win points before the election.”

The last 500m of the 5km supply pipeline from Mossman to Newell is now being installed. It will end at the golf course’s 18th hole, with the club expected to continue the construction from there.

“It’s not rocket science. We’re a 150-member club and we have no money for this sort of project,” Mr Prewett added.

“We can’t even afford the power bill to run the pump. I cannot understand their arrogance. Either they’re not listening, or they don’t care.”

The pair’s concerns were backed by Mr Entsch, who described the situation as “ludicrous”.

“There would not be a regional golf club in Australia that could afford this,” he said. “It’s about local council and Federal Government looking good politically but it’s clear they have no consideration of the outcome for the community.”

Mr Entsch said that if the recycled water project was a council and Federal Government initiative then the financial responsibility lay with them.

“The club didn’t in any way bid for this infrastructure, therefore it is unreasonable to expect that they will be indentured with this cost,” he said.

“In my view, as it is a council and government initiative, the costs should be borne by them.”

However Council's General Manager for Water and Waste Bruce Gardiner vehemently denies the club is being backed into a corner.

"Firstly, I can categorically state that the Mossman Golf Club is not being forced to take recycled water from Council.

"Discussions had occurred over the last 12 months on the possibility of the golf club taking recycled water as part of the broader scheme.

"It became apparent some months back that the Club could not afford at this time to install the needed irrigation system and pump system. The Council at this time also does not have the funds to install the infrastructure at the Club."

Mr Gardiner said the recycled water main is being laid as part of a first stage in the scheme which will eventually provide recycled water for irrigation purposes to Newell Beach, and if sometime in the future funds become available – the Mossman Golf Club.

"The so-called contract is merely an example of a Recycled Water Use Agreement which any recycled water customer would need to hold. It was sent to assist the Club to understand what the requirements would be for them and the Council if recycled water was to be used at the Club," Mr Gardiner said.

The $5.5 million will be used to upgrade the wastewater treatment plant, install a 1 Million litre storage tank, and recycled water mains to various locations in Mossman including the Showground and other parks and gardens that may in the future use recycled water.

"This will offset the need to secure additional drinking water supplies for the Mossman and Port Douglas areas," Mr Gardiner said.

He said that he has contacted Mr Entsch’s Office to inform of the facts.

"Council is also attempting this afternoon (Tuesday 18 April) to contact the Gold Club representatives to clarify what is clearly a misunderstanding on their behalf."