Premier Beattie backs away from recycled sewage for drinking (update) ...
Comments by Premier Beattie in State parliament yesterday:
"... I want to ensure that the people of Queensland are clear on my government's stance on the use of recycled water. It has never been the state government's policy to pump recycled water into dams. We are actively supporting the use of recycled water for industry. If there is a surplus, we will free it up for agricultural use, possibly in the Lockyer."
Now, Toowoomba is still in Queensland and Cooby Dam is still a dam.
Premier Beattie then goes on to say:
"I repeat: using recycled water for drinking is not my government's policy."
Then perhaps remembering that Toowoomba is still in Queensland, Cooby Dam is still a dam and Mayor Thorley's controversial project didn't just suddenly disappear, Premier Beattie continues:
"No recycled water will be used to replenish dams in Queensland until all other options are exhausted and the people using the water have had their say."
Perhaps he thinks the DNRM&W 'quick and dirty' review of Toowoomba's water source options counts as "all other options being exhausted" and the referendum being the opportunity for "people to have their say". He's right on the latter point.
Source - Qld Parliament Hansard - 6 June 2006 - pages 2159-2160.
Where this leaves Mayor Thorley's floundering recycled sewage project really is anybody's guess.
Note that Premier Beattie stated that "[n]o recycled water will be used to replenish dams in Queensland until all other options are exhausted and the people using the water have had their say."
In March 2006, Premier Beattie assured the Toowoomba community that Toowoomba wouldn't run dry:
From WIN News (13 March 2006):
Toowoomba won't run dry
Queensland Premier Peter Beattie has given assurances Toowoomba won't run dry if the Federal Government rejects the water futures project. Mr Beattie confirming he's discussing water initiatives with the Mayor ...
See - Premier Beattie examining other options.
Also see - There are other options.
It looks like those other options haven't been "exhausted" ...
posted by Concerned Ratepayer at 5:02 PM
3 Comments:
It is clear that Beattie knows that the people will not accept Reclaimed Sewage Water into the drinking supply.
He also knows that there are other options for the Toowoomba people and surrounding areas.
Lets have a good look at these Henry you can bring water to the community from these sources in the next 12 months.
7:20 AM, June 07, 2006
Well then he should withdraw the funding and support for Water Futures otherwise he is a hypocrite and a liar!
2:40 PM, June 07, 2006
Well I think the vast majority of Queenslanders watched there childish antics in Parliment picking on Springborg about the merger thingy. I haven't seen that sort of behaviour since primary school!
11:34 AM, June 08, 2006
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