SEQ - no uniform water restrictions until grid completed ...

SEQ mayors are arguing for consistent level 5 restrictions for the region. The State Labor government (via the QWC) says sure but wait until the water grid is finished.

But isn't the water grid supposed to solve SEQ's water issues, meaning restrictions will be relaxed?

Perhaps not.

Not a surprise given that recycled water is not a new water source (desalination is) and ultimately the recycled water plant may be recycling 80% of nothing.

Excerpt from the Courier Mail:

Uniform water restrictions urged

16 March 2007

Mayors have called on all southeast Queensland councils to fall into line with next month's tough level 5 water restrictions.

Six local government areas - Boonah, Redland, Toowoomba, Noosa, Caloundra and Maroochy - operate independently because they have water supplies not connected to the Wivenhoe system.

Redland Shire residents, for example, are still hosing gardens under level 2 water restrictions, and Sunshine Coast residents have no restrictions at all.

And some mayors are now saying it is time for restrictions to be uniform – even in shires that aren't currently connected to parched Wivenhoe.

"We're all part of Southeast Queensland; we should all have the same restrictions," said Logan Mayor Graham Able.

"It's a perception thing," agreed Redcliffe Mayor Allan Sutherland. "We should be preserving every drop we've got."

The Queensland Water Commission, which was created to establish uniform restrictions to end squabbling among mayors, has yet to develop one rulebook for all 18 shires.

The Water Commission intends to wait until the shires are linked by the water grid before having uniform rules, but that could take another two years.

See - QWC - established to sit around and do nothing.