Premier Beattie seizes control of water supplies ...

From ABC News:

Qld Govt seizes control of water supplies

The State Government is to take control of water supplies in Queensland, ending a row between local councils over water restrictions.

Premier Peter Beattie says sweeping measures will be introduced into Parliament today, which will give the newly-created Water Commission the power to decide on the frequency and the severity of restrictions.

Mr Beattie says he will discuss the changes with Brisbane's Lord Mayor Campbell Newman this morning and will also speak to other south-east Queensland mayors.

The Premier says it is time to start treating water supplies like liquid gold.

"We've had one of the worst droughts on record, we've got climate change - the projections are that Queensland will become drier in the next decade - and frankly we need to have better organisation and better control of water than we've done in the past," he said.

"This is the way ahead to protect Queenslanders to ensure they've got the water they need."

See - Qld government seizes control.