Qld Govt hatches plan to free up drinking water ...

From ABC News (worth revisiting for Premier Beattie's comments):

The Queensland Government has announced $20 million to kick-start a recycling project for industry in the south-east, which would re-use treated effluent instead of using raw water.

Premier Peter Beattie hopes the new pipeline will be built in three years.

He say it will free up about 60,000 megalitres of raw water every year for urban use.

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

Natural Resources Minister Henry Palaszczuk says stage two of the project would explore the possibility of providing recycled water to farmers in the Lockyer Valley.

"They indicated to me that they are so keen on being part of a program, if it does comes to fruition, that they're prepared to even assist in the payment of the infrastructure in providing the pipe for the Lockyer," he said.

State Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg says there is no need for the government to put stage two on the backburner

"We know that it works, we know that it stacks up, we know that millions have been spent on feasibility, we know it makes sense, [so] get on and build it - stop stuffing around, get on and build it," he said.

See: Qld Govt hatches plan to free up drinking water.