When did the Council move from industrial use to drinking use?

In 2003, the Qld Department of State Trade, Development and Innovation made the following press release.

There was no mention at that time of using the recycled sewage for drinking purposes.

Why the change from August 2003 to June 2005 - why not leave it just for industrial purposes? No one is doubting the benefits of using recycled sewage for industrial use - what has most people perplexed is why force Toowoomba residents to drink recycled sewage when drinking water is put on crops just outside Toowoomba.

To any sensible person, this just doesn't make sense.

TOOWOOMBA WASTEWATER OPTION UNDER FURTHER INVESTIGATION

Toowoomba City Council and the State Government are working on developing a business plan for a localised wastewater solution that could offer the Downs a new economic catalyst, the Minister for State Development, Tom Barton, said in Toowoomba today.

“A local wastewater response, worth up to $50 million, would also enhance the whole region’s economic and environmental outcomes,” Mr Barton said.

“Studies into shifting Brisbane’s wastewater to the Darling Downs have now proven that it is not economically, financially or environmentally sustainable.

“However work has been progressing on a localised response between the State Government and the council. Once this business plan is developed, Commonwealth support will be sought. More than $938,000 has been spent on wastewater studies that prove the grander Brisbane to the Downs project it is not viable."

“The negatives of the greenhouse gases resulting from the production of energy for pumping alone outweigh the benefits afforded to Moreton Bay in terms of water quality.”

However, Mr Barton said, the studies have shown that by optimising the output from Toowoomba’s Wetella Treatment Plant there could be bonuses for the Downs:

• Acland Coal mine’s production could be increased from less than one million tonnes a year to more than two million tonnes a year;

• a guaranteed water supply significantly progresses the Charlton-Wellcamp Industrial Estate’s viability;

• associated success with Charlton-Wellcamp further enhances calls for a Second Range Crossing; and

• water quality into Gowrie Creek could be improved.

“Already the Toowoomba City Council has shown a lead by entering into a long-term wastewater agreement with the Millmerran Power Station with 1000 ML/year,” Mr Barton said.

“This was enhanced by Deputy Mayor Peter Woods’ comments last Friday at the Toowoomba PCYC opening, where he intimated that the city would be looking to further optimise its wastewater gains.”

Mr Barton said that apart from Wetella enhancing the city’s economic opportunities, it offers an ecologically sustainable outcome for the disposal of Toowoomba’s wastewater.

It would:

• permanently remove all Toowoomba’s nutrient load from Gowrie Creek (more than 200 tonnes annually) – which was also consistent with the Council of Australian Government (COAG) objective of rehabilitating the Murray-Darling Basin;

• permanently remove all Toowoomba-generated dissolved solids from Gowrie Creek (more than 13,000 tonnes annually), which is consistent with the Commonwealth’s Nation Action Plan on Salinity; and

• create more irrigation options below Wetella.

Mr Barton said studies have shown that to shift Brisbane’s wastewater from Brisbane to the Downs could cost governments as much as $810 million.

“Even if producers were to pay $150/ML, that would not cover operational costs, let alone make a contribution to the capital costs of any project to the Darling Downs,” he said.

“We need to sort out the final numbers for this $50 million-plus project, and work out a fair distribution of any shortfall between the parties who will benefit.

“In particular, we are keen to see the Federal Government throw their support behind a unique opportunity to address the largest single point source of salinity and algal blooms in the Darling river system.”

12 August 2003

See - No mention of drinking recycled sewage.