Outhouse Springs - selling the ridiculous ...

In 2003, a US ad agency wanted to prove the power of billboard advertising. So they decided to have a little fun with a fictional campaign. And so, Outhouse Springs was born!



See - Outhouse Springs.

RTA chief falls on his sword over tunnel

This is what happens when full details of government projects are not disclosed.

See - RTA Chief falls on sword.

And - Tunnel farce laid bare.

Are we going to see this happen in relation to the Toowoomba recycled sewage proposal?

Sydney goes ahead with desalination trials

News reports indicate that small desalination trials will take place in Sydney in 2006 before a full-scale desalination plant is constructed on Sydney's Kurnell Peninsula.

See - Green light for Sydney desalination.

Mention recycled water and water tank sales increase

Interesting comments:

"A local water tank manufacturer says Toowoomba's proposed water recycling project has led to an increase in sales.

Rob Allison from Australian Water Systems says people are concerned about the council's [recycled effluent] plans.

The Toowoomba council's plan includes a new recycling plant to purify waste water.

"Water conservation, primarily the thought of drinking recycled water is not palatable," he said."

See - Water tank sales increase.

Shows that people think tank water is preferable to taking a chance on the Mayor's proposal. The Mayor wouldn't own shares in a water tank company would she? Probably wishes she does ...

The truth about health risks or worm races?

The Chronicle could have run a story today about the release last Friday of the draft national guidelines for recycled water prepared by the Environmental Protection and Heritage Council. They could have told Toowoomba residents that the guidelines specify that further research is required in relation to recycled water. They could have said that these guidelines aren't even for water used for drinking - those guidelines won't be released until after 2006.

But no, they chose to tell you about worm races on the weekend.

See - Worm races!

Also see - draft EPHC guidelines.

Water recyclers rigging SBS poll?

Are those in favour of water recycling rigging the SBS Insight poll on the SBS website?

They wouldn't do that, would they? Little scamps!

If you can't get people on your side, vote time and time again!

Salt Water v. Poo Water: Tuesday night is Fight Night!

Watch SBS Insight at 7.30 pm on Tuesday 1 November for the great recycled water debate, focusing on Sydney's desalination plant plans and Toowoomba's recycled sewage plans.

If you can't watch it, the program transcript will be on the SBS website. You can also watch a video of the program from the website.

See - SBS Insight.

Drinking recycled sewage - those for and against ...

The scoreboard as it currently stands:

Toowoomba City Council

Councillor Barron - against

"For me, I don't believe I've signed off on it." (Toowoomba Chronicle 20 October 2005)

Councillor Beer - against

"All the way along, all this stuff has been kept too hush-hush." (Toowoomba Chronicle 20 October 2005)

Councillor Shelton - against

"I think it will be hard to sell drinking recycled sewage when 27,000 megalitres of proven, safe yield of potable water is available within kilometres of the city,'' Cr Shelton said. ``It doesn't make sense to put potable water on cotton and drink recycled effluent." (Courier Mail 13 October 2005)

Mayor Thorley - for

I'm finding it really depressing that I'm sitting here and there are people acting like they didn't agree with the project." (Toowoomba Chronicle 20 October 2005)

Deputy Mayor Ramia - for

Councillor Albion - for

Councillor Alroe - for

Councillor Englart - for

Councillor Schneider - for

Qld State politicians

The Hon. Peter Beattie MP, Premier - against (but inconsistent views being given by his fellow Ministers)

"What we're trying to do is free up drinking water for drinking."

In relation to clean drinking water, he said:

"Instead of using it in industry, instead of using it in on our garden, there is a clear strategy here and it makes good sense."

See - Courier Mail article.

The Hon. Kerry Shine MP - seems to be in favour of it so far

The Hon. Henry Palaszczuk: worth considering (if not in my electorate)

The Hon. Mike Horan MP - apparently against

Federal politicians

The Hon. Ian Macfarlane MP - against

"I still support parts of the project to supply recycled water for industry, resources and agriculture. However, given information I have obtained from independent sources I am currently unable to support recycled effluent being discharged into Cooby Dam."

The Hon. Malcolm Turnbull MP - against

See - ABS Insiders.

The Hon. Greg Hunt MP - against

See - Water Myths.

The Hon. Gary Nairn MP - against

See - Water Myths.

The Hon. John Howard MP, Prime Minister - unknown so far

Others

Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman - against

From the Australian Financial Review on 30 September 2005:

"But [Qld] Natural Resources Minister Henry Palaszczuk and Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman, who is Council of Mayors (SEQ) chairman, stopped short of backing recycled water for domestic consumption."

I'll add more as their views become known ...

CH2M Hill terminated on Melbourne Fl. project

On 13 September 2005, the City of Melbourne Florida resolved to terminate CH2M Hill in relation to the "engineering services during construction and post-construction phases of the Phase II surface water treatment plant project."

"CH2M Hill designed the project and staff bid the Phase II work as designed. We have been negotiating with the firm since July 2005 for services related to the construction project. The City does not believe that it can come to a satisfactory conclusion as to the amount of the contract and the work covered by that contract."

The Council resolved to terminate the "negotiations for construction phase related services with CH2M Hill and authorize the City Manager to direct the selection of a new consultant who is most qualified to provide these services and to negotiate a fee proposal with that consultant."

The City Manager was quoted as saying "it is time to find a different engineering firm to supervise the ultimate choice for the construction contract. We’ve had that component of the project under negotiations for about three months and staff is no longer satisfied that it is in the City’s best interest to proceed on this project with CH2M Hill. We have differences of professional opinion and we don’t believe we are able to negotiate what is required to proceed."

At the same meeting, Council approved the payment of an additional $75,000 to CH2M Hill relating to "additional design work on the surface water treatment plant Phase II project". "Mr. Contreras said that he has a lot of heartburn with this item especially since the City was 'tagged' with additional costs for having discussions with the firm on operational problems."

One unhappy Council ...

See - Melbourne Florida Council.

Qld State MP - not sure on recycled sewage costs

At least one Qld State MP is apparently of the view that the proposed Toowoomba recycled sewage proposal could cost twice the amount the Council is quoting.

Raises the question of how accurate are their numbers and whether the Council will sign fixed price contracts without any cost escalation clause.

Contractor CH2M Hill is no stranger to cost overruns on projects:

"CH2M Hill estimated in 2003 that it could complete the removal of that waste for $90 million, according to the audit. But now DOE estimates the costs have increased to $215 million, the audit said."

See - Tri-City Herald article.

Also see - LA Weekly article.

Cost overruns = greater corporate profits.

In 2004, CH2M Hill had revenue of US$2.715 billion. (US$993 million related to US Federal Government contracts.)

See - SEC records.

Minister Palaszczuk: not in my electorate - not my problem ...

Minister Palaszczuk does not have to worry about an electorate backlash following his apparent endorsement of Toowoomba's recycled sewage proposal.

His electorate is Inala which falls well within Brisbane where Lord Mayor Campbell Newman is against using recycled sewage for drinking. He is probably also covered by boss Premier Beattie's decision that "[w]hat we're trying to do is free up drinking water for drinking".

Pity the poor folks up in Toowoomba who apparently are the exception to the latest Beattie rule ...

See: Minister Palaszczuk's electorate.

Minister Palaszczuk - why the inconsistency?

The Department of Natural Resources review of the different water options for Toowooomba is no detailed review.

The Report states that it "presents the results of a rapid review of appraisal work performed by the Toowoomba City Council on the suite of options that have emerged as supply alternatives to the Toowoomba Water Futures proposal".

Basic industry "rules of thumb" and local knowledge were applied.

So it's not a review of the options but a review of the Council's appraisal? Using rules of thumb?

Surely the taxpayers of Toowoomba deserve better than this.

Interestingly, the Report says:

"In a situation where Toowoomba faces challenges in accessing water from traditional sources, the proposal to incorporate indirect potable reuse as part of an overall strategy to meet overall water needs has obvious merit."

But in 2000, the Qld Government's Water Recycling Effects Scoping Study on the health risks of recycled sewage for drinking said "that insufficient studies have been conducted to allow significant conclusions to be drawn about the actual health risk posed by the recycling of wastewater."

See - Water Recycling Effects Scoping Study.

Can the Minister explain the inconsistency?

Can the Minister explain why his Department's view differs from that of Premier Beattie who recently said "[w]hat we're trying to do is free up drinking water for drinking"?

Read the NRM Report.

The first recycled sewage for drinking experiment in Australia ...

The Qld Government is somewhat inconsistent on the recycled water issue.

First, the Premier Peter Beattie says on TV that he does not want Queenslanders to drink recycled sewage.

Then his Natural Resources Minister Henry Palaszczuk very quickly assesses that the alternatives to recycled sewage are not viable.

The Mayor obviously thinks this is good news - she's quoted as saying "the technology to be used in Toowoomba is tried and true".

If so, is she willing to guarantee it?

She also says "They’ve had planned indirect potable reuse in Orange County, California and Fairfax County, Virginia, for 20-odd years with no adverse health effects."

Incorrect. Only (not so democratic) Singapore is using the same technology proposed for Toowoomba. The project in California which will use this technology is only partially constructed.

Fairfax County, Virginia treats waste in a different manner and then pumps it into the river where it is redrawn into treatment facilities.

The Mayor fails to mention that CH2M Hill are employed by Fairfax County.

See - Fairfax County.

Also - CH2M Hill website.

The Mayor does say that "Toowoomba’s residents will not be guinea pigs of a water experiment".

This will be the first recycled sewage for drinking experiment in Australia. It's hard to see how Toowoomba is not the guinea pig capital of Australia.

But, why the rush to dismiss other ideas and adopt the US company's technology?

The truth about dam levels?

Is the Toowoomba City Council telling the truth about dam levels?

Are the reports of weekly rainfall and dam levels published in the Toowoomba Chronicle accurate?

Does the Council wish to suppress the real figures so as to bolster support for its recycled sewage proposal?

Just a thought ...

Another day another expert ...

Seems the Toowoomba City Council has another expert to convince everyone to drink recycled sewage.

The Chronicle today carries an article which states that the Mayor has found a new ally in the water debate - UQ Professor Jurg Keller.

But how independent is he?

Professor Keller is Director of the Advanced Wastewater Management Centre at UQ.

(see - Advanced Wastewater Management Centre)

Also at the Centre apparently is Adjunct Professor and ex-CH2M Hill Australia Managing Director Ian Law who also has his own consultancy, IBL Solutions.

(see - Adjunct Professor and also IWES presenters.)

Seems Professor Keller is also a director and shareholder of Wastewater Futures Pty Ltd which advises the private sector on wastewater treatment solutions. Fellow director and shareholder Paul Lant is also an Associate Professor at UQ and helped Professor Keller establish the Advanced Wastewater Management Centre at UQ. (see - Paul Lant)

Associate Professor Lant is working on a variety of research projects at the moment including one partially funded by the Toowoomba City Council worth $88,000. (see - Toowoomba City Council research). So the Centre established by Professor Keller and Associate Professor Lant is doing research funded by the Toowoomba City Council.

Wastewater Futures Pty Ltd also carries on a professional training business under the name IWES ("Australia's leading workshop for environment professionals"). Course presenters at their conference scheduled for Sydney in February 2006 include Professor Keller, Associate Professor Lant, Ian Law and, guess who, Dr Greg Leslie (also ex-CH2M Hill and now advising the Toowoomba City Council as a consultant to CH2M Hill). (see - IWES.)

IWES does paid training for a large number of clients including CH2M Hill.

[paragraph deleted - please see comment]

The wastewater world certainly is a small one!

Memo from Toowoomba City Council - please send another expert ...

Qld Premier does not want recycled sewage for drinking ...

Premier Peter Beattie does not appear to be in favour of using recycled effluent for drinking water.

Yesterday, he was quoted as saying in relation to the new Qld Government recycling initiative:

"What we're trying to do is free up drinking water for drinking."

In relation to clean drinking water, he said:

"Instead of using it in industry, instead of using it in on our garden, there is a clear strategy here and it makes good sense."

So he now sees that it is not necessary to use recycled effluent for drinking ...

See: http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200510/s1489407.htm
Also: http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,17023773%255E3102,00.html
And: http://www.thechronicle.com.au/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3658023&thesection=localnews&thesubsection=&thesecondsubsection=

The Premier's comments sound a lot like the comments in the Federal Parliamentary Report from August this year:

"Australia takes the position of using the best source of water possible and using recycling to free up drinking water in preference to directly replenishing supplies."

See: http://www.aph.gov.au/Library/pubs/RB/2005-06/06rb02.pdf

Finally, some consistency between State and Federal Government thinking!

Jondaryan Shire Council asks TCC for more information on alternatives ...

The shires neighbouring Toowoomba are concerned about the city's recycled sewage proposals.

The Jondaryan Shire Council reported on its website on 12 September 2005 that it had convened a meeting on 9 September of all regional Councils which take water from Toowoomba and are affected by the proposed scheme.

At the meeting, the Councils requested that the Toowoomba City Council supply more information on their consideration of alternatives to the embattled Mayor's recycled sewage proposal.

The article noted that the Toowoomba City Council was planning to supplement a quarter of the supply (5000 megalitres) with water recycled from waste water taken from the Wetella Water Reclamation Plant. Currently, 19% of the water from the region's three dams which is treated by Toowoomba Water is supplied to surrounding shires - Crows Nest, Rosalie, Jondaryan and Gatton.

Jondaryan Shire Mayor, Peter Taylor, said local residents were pressing Council to take a public stand on the issue but lack of information made this difficult.

(This article no longer appears on the Jondaryan Shire Council's website: http://www.jondaryan.qld.gov.au/ but may be accessed via yahoo.com for the cached version - http://www.ansearch.com.au/count?id=zdzxhozxzi.)

The surrounding shires which would receive recycled sewage through their taps are obviously concerned by the Mayor's proposal and have asked the Toowoomba City Council to provide more information on the alternatives.

So here are more people questioning the Mayor on the alternatives to recycled sewage. The alternatives are out there - as the media is now reporting - what will the embattled Mayor tell the regional Councils?

Toowoomba Mayor talks to remaining supporters ...

Toowoomba Mayor Thorley was seen today talking with supporters of her recycled sewage proposal. Unaware of any dissent in the community to her proposal, she seems equally oblivious to the ever dwindling number of people lining up to drink her recycled sewage.

Photo - © 2005 ABC

Toowoomba Grammar dumps Cooby Dam property ...

The Board of Trustees of the Toowoomba Grammar School have placed their property fronting Cooby Dam on the market.

The waterfront property, Abingdon, will be offered for auction on 19 November 2005.

Are the Trustees worried about the property's value declining if the Council's recycled sewage plan goes ahead and recycled sewage is pumped into Cooby Dam?

The property has modern accommodation for 32 students. Are the Trustees concerned about possible future legal liability relating to students swimming in the dam?

See: http://www.domain.com.au/public/propertydetails.aspx?mode=BUY&id=2005213160&prevChannel=Emails&prevPage=Home+Alert+Open+(postclick)&prevServer=Emails&s_cid=HomeAlert:QLD&ectsup=&haprof=321833&ectfup=

Council to ratepayers: cross us and we'll get out the backhoe ...

How's does the Toowoomba City Council deal with non-complying ratepayers?

It gets out the backhoe!

And so it did to teach Marie Quinn a lesson.

She may have failed to pay her rates from time to time and her roses may grow a bit higher than the Council would prefer, but for 25 years she has been a permanent fixture on visitors' maps for the annual Carnival of Flowers.

Each year, buses packed Tourist Road and Long Street near her home and people would happily wander through her garden.

No more.

After the Council's action, she will retire from the Carnival of Flowers competition.

And with the sweep of a backhoe, her footpath garden is destroyed and another wonderful part of Toowoomba is removed.

Thank you, Toowoomba City Council.


See: Garden destroyers emerge from fog - http://www.thechronicle.com.au/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3657558&thesection=localnews&thesubsection=&thesecondsubsection=

Also see: http://www.abc.net.au/stateline/qld/content/2003/s948921.htm

Wanted: Whistleblower

Are you involved in the Toowoomba recycled effluent project?

Is the Council misleading the residents and ratepayers of Toowoomba?

Maybe you should read the Council's Code of Conduct for employees:

http://www.toowoomba.qld.gov.au/media/publications/code_of_conduct_2004.pdf

Council employees are required to act in the public interest:

"Acting in the public interest means taking a course of action which provides the greatest good for the community as a whole. This should be the basis upon which recommendations or decisions are made." (see page 11)

"Improper conduct includes maladministration or waste of public funds." (see page 10)

"The chief executive officer is obligated to report suspected or detected official misconduct to the [CMC]." (see page 10)

One of the options available for evidence of official misconduct is to contact the Crime and Misconduct Commission: http://www.cmc.qld.gov.au/

If there has been misconduct by the Council on this project, it should be brought to light.

The cosy CH2M Hill - TCC relationship ...

What is the missing piece of the puzzle?

The embattled Mayor has claimed that there is no financial arrangement between the Council and contractor CH2M Hill. At a recent meeting, one of the council employees apparently contradicted her.

The way to resolve this is simple.

The Mayor and the Council must disclose the full terms of all arrangements with CH2M Hill, including arrangements directly with the Council and arrangements with individual Councillors or the Mayor.

The disclosure should include any arrangements with any relatives of any Councillor or the Mayor, including children who may live overseas in Canada or the US and may work for CH2M Hill or an affiliate or have been promised employment or consulting work in the future should the recycled effluent project proceed.

The truth will come out eventually and we will then see precisely what is motivating the Mayor in her dealings with CH2M Hill.

Australian Water Association comments on how to trick the politicians ...

Interesting comments from the Australian Water Assocation on how to trick the politicians into adopting recycled effluent projects:

"I'd argue that it is the public ultimately that drives the politicians; the challenge for the technical folks is to convince & motivate the public, which partially requires mobilising the media (to which politicians also respond). This last bit is a challenge, in my experience, as they are interested mainly in the sensational, which for water folks typically means bad news rather than good news."

"On the public end, there are three possibilities: opposition, neutrality (complacence/apathy) and support. There will of course always be a range of opinions and the middle group of folks will most likely always be the largest. The trick is to get the positive folks to be (or appear to the politicians to be) a more vocal majority than those opposed. It seems to be that it tends to be a rare politician that will stand up and champion a potentially risky cause, but if that can be found there is great potential.

Brian McRae
Technical Director
Australian Water Association"
22 Jan 2003


http://www.nrm.qld.gov.au/list_archives/water-recycling/msg01268.html

Advisory panel grinds to a halt ...

I understand that the Water Futures Toowoomba Advisory Panel has ground to a halt.

Chosen by the embattled Mayor to talk up the benefits of the recycled sewage project, not all panel members agree with her. Also, following Federal MP Macfarlane's decision not to support the recycled sewage proposal in the absence of full assessment and costing of alternatives, there's not much for the Advisory Panel to do.

Maybe they could spend some time looking at the alternatives ...

Think before you spend ...

Great quotes in relation to the risk of chloride in water in the Santa Clara River Valley in the US and the need to do proper studies before spending vast sums of money.

"The residents of the Santa Clarita Valley are well aware of the importance of agriculture to Ventura County and are committed to ensuring that water quality is maintained at a level necessary to ensure continued protection of downstream agricultural activities. The provisions of the regional board's plan for addressing chloride in the Santa Clara River watershed were considered in numerous public hearings and other public meetings held between 2000 and 2004 and deserve to be implemented, rather than short-circuited, as called for by Mr. Roy's and Mr. Laird's coalition. The authors imply that everything we need to know about chloride is already known, which is simply not true. The studies that are being conducted as part of the regional board's plan, at a cost of up to $10 million with input and participation from stakeholders in the watershed, are designed to provide those answers. This is certainly not a sweetheart deal, as stated in the commentary.

While it is true that these studies will take time, the consequences of moving forward without the needed scientific information must be fully considered and balanced. The coalition is calling on the community of Santa Clarita to pay more than $350 million without knowing the answers to the many important questions that are being studied right now. Is this good public policy? We think not and hope the coalition will work with the district and the Regional Water Quality Control Board to develop the science and the ability to make good policy decisions that will protect water quality and benefit all stakeholders, regardless of whether they are Ventura County or Los Angeles County residents.

James F. Stahl is chief engineer and general manager of the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County, based in Whittier."

See: http://www.venturacountystar.com/vcs/opinion/article/0,1375,VCS_125_4163349,00.html

If only the embattled Mayor in Toowoomba thought the same way ...

Breaking news: guarantee from the Mayor

Do you think the Mayor would sign this??

Guarantee of Water Quality

As Mayor of Toowoomba, I guarantee to the residents and ratepayers of Toowoomba that, following careful due diligence on the technology to be used as part of the indirect potable use water recycling project for Toowoomba, ingesting the recycled water will have no adverse effects whatsoever on you, your children or your grandchildren.

I agree to continue to be bound by this guarantee even though I may no longer be Mayor of Toowoomba at the time at which it is enforced against me.

I agree that this guarantee may be enforced against my assets wherever situated.

_______________
Mayor


Anything less just isn't really worthwhile, is it?

Maybe a guarantee from the Deputy Mayor and any Councillor who thinks recycled sewage is the preferred option ...

One by one ... (update)

More Councillors defecting to the side of reason ....

From the Courier Mail (13 October 2005):

``I think it will be hard to sell drinking recycled sewage when 27,000 megalitres of proven, safe yield of potable water is available within kilometres of the city,'' Cr Shelton said. ``It doesn't make sense to put potable water on cotton and drink recycled effluent.''

It's lonely at the top ...

From the Australian Financial Review on 30 September 2005:

"But [Qld] Natural Resources Minister Henry Palaszczuk and Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman, who is Council of Mayors (SEQ) chairman, stopped short of backing recycled water for domestic consumption."

It's beginning to look a lot like one lonely isolated Mayor up on the hill in Toowoomba.

Add to this the three Councillors who have elected to look at water alternatives and it's getting very lonely indeed.

Embattled Mayor flogging dead dog ...

Toowoomba Mayor Di Thorley believes in flogging a dead dog.

With an increasing number of Federal MPs against the use of recycled sewage for drinking water, the Mayor continues to press on claiming that the National Water Commission application is still on track.

Federal MP Ian Macfarlane has said that all alternatives should be fully reviewed and costed. And so they should be. The embattled Mayor seems hell bent on committing Toowoomba to recycled sewage for drinking purposes without any consideration of the alternatives.

Recycled sewage should only be used for drinking purposes as a last resort - and once long-term scientific studies show it is safe. There are other alternatives and these should be fully assessed before spending taxpayers' money on what could be an enormous white elephant.

The question remains - would the Council be negligent if they didn't assess all water supply alternatives thereby exposing Councillors to personal liability?

When two tribes go to war ...

The rumour circulating that somehow CADS bullied over 7000 people into signing the petition against the embattled Mayor's recycled sewage proposal is simply laughable.

It's a sure sign of desperation on the part of the Council if these rumours are in fact emanating from within Council chambers.

Makes you wonder who is on their PR team? Elmur Fudd? "Sshhh, be very very quiet. We're spreading rumours!"

"Chewy Water" on the back burner - another Federal MP agrees ...

Federal MP Ian Macfarlane is to be applauded for his sensible decision not to support the embattled Mayor's controversial plans to introduce recycled sewage to Toowoomba's drinking water supply.

Macfarlane is quoted in yesterday's Toowoomba Chronicle as saying "I am extremely concerned at the apparent lack of community understanding of and support for this project and it's imperative that these issues be addressed before the proposal can move forward."

He also said:

"In the past three weeks my office has been inundated with serious concerns about drinking treated wastewater.

I have also been exploring other alternatives which I understand haven't been fully assessed by the Council.

As a result, I met with the Mayor and told her that I couldn't support the proposal in its current form until all other possible alternatives had been fully investigated, costed and explained to the public.

Next week, I'm arranging to meet with the head of the National Water Commission to explore how we can keep our place in the funding queue while these options are considered.

I still support parts of the project to supply recycled water for industry, resources and agriculture. However, given information I have obtained from independent sources I am currently unable to support recycled effluent being discharged into Cooby Dam.

I believe viable alternatives exist and it is now up to council to come up with a unanimous proposal which I will take directly to the National Water Commission."


The Council has admitted that the recycled sewage project is not viable unless it involves putting the recycled sewage into the drinking water supply. So that's a significant problem for the project.

It does, however, open the way for other proposals, including the innovative QGC gas water proposal, to be assessed and costed. The embattled Mayor was quick to dismiss this project saying that they has assessed it and it wasn't viable. Mr Macfarlane has said the other alternatives have not been fully assessed by the Council.

Has the Council not been completely honest with Toowoomba's residents and ratepayers?

More Federal MPs say no to drinking recycled water

Messrs Hunt and Nairn, both Federal MPs, have written a paper entitled "Debunking Myths about Recycled Water". Dated September 2005 (so it's very recent), the paper states:

"First, there is the myth that recycled water is intended for drinking. False.

No-one of whom we are aware is currently proposing that Sydney’s water be recycled for drinking purposes. As is the case in California, Adelaide, Israel and many parts of Europe, water is to be recycled for agriculture, industry, parks, gardens and environmental flows.

Indeed the standard of this recycled water is so high that, as Professor Greg Leslie of the University of NSW's Centre for Membrane Science and Technology has argued, Singaporean high tech manufacturers are using the near distilled quality water for semi-conductor manufacturing. Not surprisingly, semi-conductor manufacturing demands even higher standards of cleanliness than drinking water. [Note: I think the jury is still out on how pure this water is - as must be the Federal Government given that is still making ARC grants to Australian universities to study how pure it is!]

In Adelaide and Israel recycled water is used for agriculture. In Florida it is used for environmental flows and industry as well as agriculture. In Victoria a massive recycling project is proposed to supply pulp, paper and power production, thus leaving almost 100 billion litres of fresh water in the dams for drinking purposes while cleaning up an ocean outfall.

In considering recycling as opposed to desalination the message is two-fold. Firstly, no-one is proposing that recycled water (no matter how clean) should at this stage be included in indirect potable supplies and secondly, recycled water comes at about half the cost per-kilolitre of desalinated water and without the environmental impacts associated with high energy requirements and disposal of the highly saline by-product."

See: http://www.waterworks.net.au/images/documents/WaterMythsSepto5.doc

The Hon Greg Hunt MP is Federal Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment and the Hon Gary Nairn MP is the Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister with responsibility for the National Water Initiative.

Interesting comments in view of the Toowoomba proposal.

Another Federal MP - recycle the water but not for drinking

Federal MP Malcolm Turnbull was interviewed recently by the ABC. A fan of recycling, he doesn't believe it is necessary for it to be used for drinking purposes:

"BARRIE CASSIDY: OK, water recycling is a passion of yours but a survey of 600 people has been released which suggests Sydneysiders won't drink it. Sixty-eight per cent uncomfortable with the idea?

MALCOLM TURNBULL: Well, you can frame the question in all sorts of ways to get the answer you seek, of course. But let me just say this question of drinking recycled water in Sydney is a furphy. It's a non-issue, because there is no need to put that recycled water back into the drinking water system. There are plenty of non-potable, non-drinking uses for it, not least of which is restoring the environmental flows in our rivers. Israel is a good example. They recycle 70 per cent of their waste water and drink none of it and have no need to drink any of it. Can you treat recycled water to make it fit for drinking? Of course you can. Absolutely, and in many parts of the world that is done. Do we need to do it in Sydney? No, we do not."

Extract from Insiders TV program transcript

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Broadcast: 24/07/2005

See: http://www.abc.net.au/insiders/content/2005/s1421021.htm

Trust your Government to make the right decision ...

Are we confident that the politicians and public servants will make the right choice on recycled effluent?

A recent general study by QUT on issues of trust indicates that Australian don't trust public servants or the Federal government.

Under the study, 68% of those surveyed had little or no confidence in the public service and 60% had little or no confidence in Federal parliament.

See: http://www.news.qut.edu.au/cgi-bin/WebObjects/News.woa/wa/goNewsPage?newsEventID=5932

It's a pity they didn't survey the level of trust in local governments. Imagine if a survey was done in Toowoomba at the moment. With the level of distrust around the city, I imagine the results for trust in the Council would be rock bottom.

Minister, that's a hell of a gamble with taxpayers' money ...

In the Toowoomba Chronicle, Federal Minister and local MP, Mr Macfarlane was quoted as saying "[i]f the testing proved recycled water was unsafe, the project would be scrapped, he said."

See: http://www.thechronicle.com.au/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3655235&thesection=localnews&thesubsection=&thesecondsubsection=

So, after they spend $68 million on this project, if it doesn't work, it will be scrapped and Toowoomba will do something else (maybe QGC gas water!).

Makes it all the more important to get the decision right at the outset! Remember, the recycled water project is not viable if it is supplied only to industry.

That's a hell of a gamble with taxpayers' money ...

Reader's comment - Council's hidden agenda ...

This is a comment posted by a reader on this blog. Raises some interesting issues ...

"Could the council please explain what the hidden agenda is about this recycled sewage project. It is very obvious that the community is not supporting this project. Why is the mayor hell bent on proceeding with this, and why won't she look at alternatives.

Is it true that a $20 million or similar bonus is being made to the first council that implements recycled sewage into the drinking water system?

If TCC was successful in implementing this project, would it also not gain financially in consulting other councils, thus creating a bigger empire, thus positions being upgraded and employees being promoted and receiving larger pay packets? One would also assume that councillors would give themselves a pat on the back and also grant themselves a nice tidy payrise?"

See: http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=16122325&postID=112807498393411768

Embattled Mayor to hold breath until Toowoomba gets recycled water

See: http://www.thechronicle.com.au/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3653095&thesection=localnews&thesubsection=

Do you think she can hold her breath until 2011-2012? How about until the next election in 2008?

No need to survey Toowoomba residents ...

A great quote from the Mayor:

"Councillor Thorley said she did not need to survey residents [on the recycled water issue] because after more than two years of tough restrictions they understood the water shortage."

See: http://www.greeningaustralia.org.au/GA/NAT/TipsAndTools/exchange/E-Bulletin/currentedition.htm

It would be interesting to see what the Council's National Water Commission application says under Assessment criterion (9) – Social/Community impact which states:

"Proponents are also expected to detail how they have assessed the social impacts that the project might have and how these impacts will be managed.

Applications must outline details of any consultation or studies that have taken place to gauge the effect of the project and to explain the potential consequences the project might have on local communities."

Is the Council's response - "did not need to survey residents"?

Lyle and Ruby were in the dark .... but at least Sue's not afraid!

A quick read of the 2004 campaign websites for two of Toowoomba's councillors - Lyle Shelton and Michelle (Ruby) Schneider - shows that they both included the issue of water as part of their campaign but failed to even mention the possibility of using recycled water.

Lyle Shelton:

"While Toowoomba has plenty of water for the next 10-15 years, decisions need to be made in the life of the next Council for beyond that period.

It is possible that our water will last even longer, depending on our ability to “slow the flow” as part of Council’s Water Wise campaign.

New supplies in the future will come via a pipeline from Wivenhoe Dam or from the construction of a fourth dam at Emu Creek near Cooyar."

See: http://toplinecomputers.com/lyle/index_files/Page351.htm

Michelle Schneider:

"Water is an important issue for Toowoomba. Every resident and business needs to conserve water. If the city runs out of water, we will be buying it at the going rate and that’s a cost for every member of the community."

See: http://www.rubyforcouncillor.com/

We can cut Ruby some slack because she wasn't on the old Council, but Lyle was.


Quote of the 2004 campaign goes to Sue Englart who said:

"I have never been afraid to express my views."

See: http://libertycommunitychurch.org/Community/in_their_own_words.pdf
(may no longer be current but can be searched via google)

Damn the dam, let's make friends with the recycled water guys ...

Just when did the Council first start considering the use of recycled water? Not before 2004 it seems ...

Mayor makes plea to curb water waste

(The Courier-Mail, 08/10/03, p3)

A new dam would need to be built by 2010 to provide water for the Toowoomba region unless spiraling water use by households and industry was curbed, said Toowoomba Mayor Di Thorley. Usage has surged by 27% in the past 7 years and the drought has made it worse. If water use could be reduced by 50 litres per person per day a new dam could be delayed by 20 years. The comments were made at the launching of council's Let's Slow the Flow campaign. Requirements for new houses to have water tanks for garden use and reduced flushing toilets were foreshadowed.

http://www.qccqld.org.au/rivers_alive/enews/Themes/Wateruse.htm

More on CH2M Hill ...

From SanDiegoReader.com

Twice burned, never shy

'San Diego's District Three city councilwoman Toni Atkins, who's up for reelection this year, has been picking up some interesting campaign money from out-of-town contributors.

Particularly noteworthy: a series of at least nine $100 checks booked by her campaign on the same date -- November 20 of last year -- from various employees of CH2M Hill, a big multinational civil engineering and construction-management firm based in Englewood, Colorado.

According to its website and city records, the firm has done millions of dollars of business with the city, including work on the controversial North City Water Reclamation Plant.

This isn't the first time Atkins has collected multiple donations from a group of out-of-towners associated with the same special interest. Back in August 2000, the then-council candidate was the beneficiary of a wine-and-cheese fundraising reception thrown in her honor by attorneys Lou Wolfsheimer and Jim Milch, then lobbyists for the California Cabaret Association, which represented San Diego's strip-club owners, including Mike Galardi of Cheetahs. At the Atkins fundraiser, the attorneys reportedly handed over envelopes stuffed with bundles of checks. Campaign-disclosure statements later revealed Atkins had picked up at least $3500 from various members of the strip-club industry, some of whom were only later identified as such. She was quizzed by federal agents last year but escaped indictment in the Cheetahs city-council bribery case.

Under city law, campaign contributions are limited to individuals only; reimbursement by employers is illegal.

Reached by phone this week, two of the CH2M employees who contributed to Atkins were not especially eager to talk. Kathy Freas of Citrus Heights, a suburb of Sacramento, listed on the Atkins disclosure as "SW Water Technical Leader," denied she had been reimbursed for her contribution but refused to discuss her association with Atkins: "I don't care to continue this discussion." Margaret Ibison of Englewood, Colorado, listed as "SW Business Development Manager" for CH2M, also denied being reimbursed. Before hanging up, she added, "I am not going to answer any other questions."'

Published on January 29, 2004

See: http://www.sdreader.com/php/cityshow.php?id=SH012904

Howzat?!

And the Mayor attempts a silly shot to mid-off, gets an edge which goes straight through to the keeper and she's ... CAUGHT OUT!

Seems the Mayor thinks you can be a consultant to one of the contractors on the I-PU! project and still be considered independent.

She apparently wrote in correspondence that the guy was independent.

See previous story: http://4350water.blogspot.com/2005/09/can-mayor-define-independent.html

It turns out that he is still working as a consultant to his old employer - the same company working on the I-PU! project, CH2M Hill!

See: http://waterfutures.myblogsite.com/blog/_archives/2005/9/30/1269652.html

Remember that Section 240 of the Qld Local Government Act 1993 states that "[a] councillor does not incur civil liability for an act or omission done honestly and without negligence under this Act".

Link: http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT/L/LocGovA93.pdf

I was only thinking about Councillors' possible negligence but maybe there's an issue with honest acts as well.

Is this the Mayor's own "Watergate"?

Top 5 Toowoomba recycled water bumper stickers:

Here they are:

1. I'd rather club harp seals than drink the Mayor's poo!

2. I visited Toowoomba and all I got was this lousy water-borne disease!

3. Vote for me - I won't make you drink from the toilet!

4. Toowoomba - beautiful one day - unknown diseases the next!

5. Toowoomba - Australia's lab rat city!

Vote for your favourite by clicking on comments. We'll print the favourite one. Feel free to suggest others too!