Yet another water source option the Council won't consider ...

On WIN News last evening, Mayor Thorley refused to consider yet another water source option - utilising water from Wivenhoe Dam which would receive water pumped from the new desalination plant being built on the Gold Coast.

Always relying on the desperate need to do something quickly, Mayor Thorley said that it would take 18 months to build the desalination plant and what would Toowoomba do until then?

Given that there is sufficient water in the dams until around end April 2008 (over two years away), Toowoomba could rely on dam water.

Then there is always the backup option of bore water.

But this misses the point.

The Mayor's controversial recycled sewage project wouldn't be online until 2011-2012 (after construction, water testing etc). So using a delay of 18 months as a reason not to use desalinated water from the Gold Coast via Wivenhoe Dam is complete rubbish.

Wivenhoe Dam water (with Gold Coast desalinated water) could be used as an emergency water source for Toowoomba. Build the additional 2km pipeline up the range and pump it to Toowoomba. The Mayor will claim that it is more expensive to pump water up the range but this water source can be used only if necessary.

As MP Ian Macfarlane said - the Council is hell-bent on its recycled sewage plan - the Mayor will continue to knock back any sensible alternative proposed to the Council.

One thing is clear - the Mayor is running out of excuses for not looking at alternative water sources as they pile up at the Council's door ...