Toowoomba City Council's "take-no-prisoners" approach ...

Article on Goulburn in yesterdays' Sydney Morning Herald.

Some interesting comments on Mayor Thorley's "you can drink it or buy bottled water" approach to community engagement.

An excerpt:

Goulburn: leading Australia in water conservation or a toilet-to-tap town?

It all depends on how you look at it but for Goulburn Mulwaree Council, spin could play a big part in the success or failure of an ambitious $40 million plan to recycle the city's sewage.

The Mayor, Paul Stephenson, is acutely aware of the controversy swirling around Toowoomba and that council's take-no-prisoners approach to introducing recycled water to Queensland's garden city.

A ratepayer vote on Toowoomba's proposal on July 29 is tipped to be a close call, thanks to an anti-recycling campaign.

Goulburn has headed off that kind of opposition, according to Cr Stephenson, by investigating all options to boost the city's water supply - tapping into more bore water, raising dam walls and imposing water restrictions early. The council will also consult the community for 12 months on how to tackle the water shortage.

"Toowoomba's motto has been 'do it and defend it'," said Cr Stephenson. "That has not been our way."

However, forces are mustering to fight the council. Some local businessmen have set up a website, and there's talk of holding a public meeting, even of hiring a public relations consultant.

See - Next stop: the big water fight comes to town.


So Goulburn's Mayor is distancing himself from Mayor Thorley's "take no prisoners" approach, saying his council will investigate all options and consult the community.

How interesting ...