Call to PM to intervene in biased referendum process ...

Letter from Councillor Shelton to Prime Minister Howard:

Friday May 5, 2006

Dear Prime Minister

I am writing in regard to the recently announced poll of Toowoomba citizens to determine whether or not they are in favour of the Water Futures - Toowoomba project.

As you would be aware, this project involves the recycling of sewage effluent in to the city’s drinking supplies via indirect potable reuse.

Like every other elected representative at local, State and Federal level, I gave initial in-principle support to this project.

However, towards the end of last year it became apparent to me that many of the propositions upon which this project was based were misleading. You would also be aware that the Member for Groom and Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources, Ian Macfarlane, was among many elected representatives to withdraw their support from Water Futures - Toowoomba as more information became available.

Following the Australian Government’s decision to fund Water Futures, subject to a referendum, Council met last week to determine the poll question.

I am disappointed that the poll question is: "Do you support the addition of purified recycled water to Toowoomba’s water supply via Cooby Dam as proposed by Water Futures – Toowoomba?"

This misleads people in relation to the source from which the water is to be recycled.

My suggested question, which was defeated in a vote at the meeting, was: "Are you in favour of recycling wastewater from the Wetalla Water Reclamation Plant for use in Toowoomba’s drinking supplies?"

In addition to voting to impose a misleading poll question, Council resolved to spend $465,000 promoting the “yes” case. The “no” case will receive $5000.

In addition to the above amount of money, Council is proposing to spend a further $251,000 of ratepayers’ money with the multi-national company CH2M Hill on community education and public outreach (some of this money has already been expended).

Given that the only treatment plant in the world like the one proposed for Toowoomba is the CH2M Hill-built NEWater plant in Singapore, it is highly likely that CH2MHill will tender to build Toowoomba’s recycling plant, if the project goes ahead.

I understand CH2MHill is involved in the construction of another plant in Orange County, California, which will supply recycled effluent in to ground water aquifers for eventual use in drinking supplies.

The ratio of recycled sewage water in Singapore’s drinking supply is 1pc. Water Futures – Toowoomba proposes a ratio of 25pc. I do not know the ratio proposed for Orange County.

I am concerned that other options such as coal seam gas water, swapping effluent for sustainable quantities of Darling Downs irrigators’ near potable water, and joining other South East Queensland Councils in the Beattie Government’s plans to interconnect urban supplies have not been properly investigated.

I do not believe the above misrepresentations were what you had in mind when you and Parliamentary Secretary Malcolm Turnbull determined that a referendum should decide the matter of introducing recycled wastewater in to Toowoomba’s drinking stream.

I am writing to appeal to your sense of fair play to urgently intervene so that a more balanced poll question and representation of both sides of the debate can be put to the people of Toowoomba.

If Indirect Potable Reuse is to be introduced in other parts of Australia, it is important that the conduct of Toowoomba’s poll is beyond reproach.

See - Councillor Shelton letter to PM Howard.