Breaking news - Qld Opposition says no to drinking recycled sewage ...

Qld Coalition press release:

Media Release

Coalition safeguards drinking water

Legislation will be introduced to prevent recycled sewage effluent being added to the State’s drinking water supplies, the Queensland Coalition announced today.

The Coalition took the firm stand at its Shadow Cabinet meeting in Toowoomba today where residents could face the prospect of having effluent added to the city’s drinking water in just a few short years.

Queensland Coalition Leader, Lawrence Springborg, said Queenslanders had a right to drink fresh water and said his Government would legislate to ensure no water provider took that right away.

Deputy Leader, Bob Quinn, said the Coalition would place a renewed focus on recycled water in Queensland, but said it would not be recycled for drinking.

Shadow Minister for Natural Resources, Jeff Seeney, said drinking water supplies could be safeguarded while recycled sewage effluent was put to other uses.

Mr Seeney said the decision stood in stark contrast to the Beattie Labor Government which supported plans to use effluent in Toowoomba’s drinking water.

“Labor has also indicated it sees Toowoomba as a possible blueprint for other communities in Queensland”, Mr Seeney said.

He said the Coalition’s decision would set the direction for water planning in Queensland and shift focus to a range of alternatives.

Among the alternatives are:

· Switching industrial water users to recycled water rather than drawing from dams;

· Water swapping between recycled urban water and irrigators’ fresh water supplies;

· All recreational irrigation – such as golf courses and cricket fields – to use recycled water only.

The Coalition also today committed to a significant measure to alleviate Toowoomba’s critical water shortage in the future.

It would fast track construction of a western pipeline from the coal seam gas fields to bring water to Toowoomba, Dalby and Oakey.

See - Qld Coalition policy release.