MINING companies would be asked to bankroll a host of new dams across the nation, some of which could be owned by taxpayers, under a Coalition bid to unlock private capital reserves and store the water needed for its goal of doubling Australia's food production.

Water allocations for some projects could also be sold like off-the-plan apartments, where construction doesn't start until at least 70 per cent of the water take has been pre-purchased by irrigators or miners.

Dams taskforce chairman Andrew Robb. Credit:Craig Abraham

The Sunday Age believes a range of financing options are being considered by the Coalition as it draws up a shortlist of viable dam projects it might sponsor in government.

The opposition dams taskforce is due to release its interim report in the next six weeks, with a list drawn from more than m 100 proposed sites put to it.