Goulburn-Mulwaree Council to throw around the "educating" money too ...

$500K to convince us of water plans: Campaign to win 'hearts, minds' starts in two months

26 April 2006

A community consultation campaign to win local hearts and minds on Goulburn Mulwaree Council's long-term water strategy, including the Sustainable Cities project, will begin in about two months.

The council last week advertised for tenders from interested parties to undertake public consultation on its 'integrated water cycle management strategy,' as well as the innovative Sustainable Cities project.

The latter is designed to return up to 2000 megalitres of recycled water to Goulburn's water supply each year, in addition to supplying lesser quality water for industry. The idea emerged from the city's dire water shortage.

If agencies, including the National Water Commission (NWC) give the go-ahead, Goulburn will be the first city in Australia to introduce the scheme.

But indications are that council will have its work cut out.

The Sustainable Cities project has already attracted considerable public comment from those unconvinced about the merits of recycling water to drinking standard.

In Toowoomba, where the council wants to implement a similar scheme, a high profile action group is mounting strong opposition.

In Goulburn, the stakes are high on the consultation campaign's success. The NWC will not go ahead with its $10 million offer towards the $30 million project if the community is not in favour.

Water services manager Greg Finlayson said the council had set aside $500,000 for the consultation phase on both projects - the integrated water plan and Sustainable Cities.

See - PR firms only winners in spending campaign.