Commerce Qld - disappointed with Toowoomba City Council ...

Commerce Qld made the following press release on 29 November 2005 in relation to the Council's questionable feasibility studies:

Business Disappointed by Council’s Questionable Feasibility Studies

Commerce Queensland today expressed disappointment with the costings and comments recently released by the Toowoomba City Council.

The Toowoomba City Council’s Toowoomba Future Waters Strategy, which proposes to use recycled water for consumption, has been put forward as the preferred water supply option, supposedly due to feasibility findings.

Yet Commerce Queensland South West Queensland Regional Chairman, Ken Murphy said the feasibility data Council was using to support its decision was questionable.

“Council has been quick to disregard a report from a respected national engineering firm showing that the cost of the Condamine Alluvium alternative is only half what has been used for comparisons.

“Council are still adamant that the recycling project is the best option, simply because their figures show that it is the cheapest.

“Based on approximately 30,000 ratepayers, even at Council’s inflated values, the Condamine Alluvium project would only cost an extra $117 per rate payer. That is less than 32 cents a day.

“The cheapest is not always the best option. The region’s reputation is at stake and 32 cents may be a small price to pay,” Mr Murphy said.

Council has also been quick to disregard Queensland Gas Company’s proposal to invest large sums of money to assist with drought proofing South West Queensland.

“For several months, Commerce Queensland has been calling for a Regional Water Plan to look at all options throughout the region.

“Private enterprise has already put up its hands to support the possibility of a total review, and we are now calling on all Councils within the region to address the water shortages in a combined effort.

“We are also concerned that with all the emphasis on the Toowoomba Water Futures project coming on line in 2012, that we do not lose sight of our immediate needs over the next few years.

“There is no single solution to the shortage. We need to look at all options, all available supplies, and all areas to formulate a plan to guarantee supply of water well into the future,” Mr Murphy said.

See - Press release - 29 November 2005.