"Di Swims Solo on Recycled Scheme ...

... but Mayor says she doesn't care"

That's the banner headline from the front page of Saturday's Chronicle (oddly enough not put online though).

The article on page 8 is headed:

Politicians join those opposed to recycling of water

Toowoomba Mayor Dianne Thorley apparently swimming solo on controversial issue

It goes on to say:

Toowoomba Mayor Dianne Thorley looks like she is swimming solo.

Her counterparts on the State and federal scene have combined to seemingly scotch the notion of Toowoomba residents drinking recycled water.

Federal Member for Groom Ian Macfarlane already had, saying he was yet to be convinced the notion of recycling water for human consumption was safe.

Then, Member for Toowoomba South Mike Horan and Member for Darling Downs Ray Hopper stepped up to the plate in State Parliament.

"Toowoomba used to be called the Garden City," Mr Horan said. "It's sad there's another term being used abut the city".

The plans most passionate supporter, Cr Thorley said she couldn't care less.

"It's easy to take the easy way," she said of what she has often described as a lack of political courage among her peers.

"They are just being politicians."

Members Hopper, Horan and Macfarlane each want alternative proposals to be considered, leaving Cr Thorley virtually alone on a State and federal level as she forges ahead with the controversial plan to supplement the city's water supply with recycled water.

The debate over the water project has escalated and become more confused over the months as opponents have peddled their own ideas of where and how to source water, and the support of politicians has been dropping like flies.

Mr Horan added to the list of alternative proposals, calling on the State Government to allocate water from Wivenhoe Dam for Toowoomba.

"All we need is 5000ML (a year)", Mr Horan said.

"If we can just get that, it's a absolute drop in the ocean at Wivenhoe."

Mr Horan said Brisbane, Logan, Beaudesert and Gympie were all sharing in the dam but the State Government was "giving Toowoomba nothing".

While Mr Horan said he applauded Toowoomba City Council's initiative in looking for solutions to the ever-dwindling dams, he said the perception of drinking recycled sewage was doing more to harm the city's image than it would do good.

Mr Horan also told State Parliament this week he was supportive of a plan to buy or swap recycled water from Toowoomba with underground water from local irrigators.

His National Party colleague Mr Hopper was adamant that people would not be drinking recycled water.

"I've done a poll of 100 people and 70% didn't want recycled water", he said.

Mr Hoper was also angered that irrigators in his electorate would lose their waste water allocation which they currently receive from the Wetalla plant.

Federal Liberal MP Ian Macfarlane has already requested council put the recycling plan on hold until all other options have been fully investigated.

In his news letter (see Downs Diary) the member for Groom called for a "detailed, independent audit of all the alternatives by an organisation or body independent of government, council or farmers".

His stance contradicts Liberal Party policy which support recycling. [The Chronicle is incorrect here - the Liberal Party does not have a specific policy dealing with drinking recycled water. Several Federal Liberal MPs - Macfarlane, Nairn, Gain, Turnbull - have said there is no need to use recycled water for drinking.]

Liberal State president Michael Caltabianco said the party supported recycling on a greater scale, and all options including recycling for drinking purposes, were open [not according to Liberal MPs Macfarlane, Hunt, Nairn and Turnbull].

Toowoomba Chronicle, 12 November 2005, Page 8