The 4350water Blog highlights some of the issues relating to proposals for potable reuse in Toowoomba and South East Qld. 4350water blog looks at related political issues as well.
See - Chronicle - Carnival Grand Champion named.
posted by Concerned Ratepayer at 7:48 AM
For many years, the 4350water blog has informed readers of plans by the Toowoomba City Council (now Toowoomba Regional Council) and the Qld government to introduce recycled water for drinking in Toowoomba. It has also looked at the issue from a State and Federal perspective and dealt with related State and Federal political issues. There continues to be a need for the Toowoomba Regional Council to be completely transparent in its dealings with the ratepayers and residents of Toowoomba. There also continues to be a need for open debate on the benefits and risks of potable reuse and long-term studies on the effects on humans of drinking recycled water. Coal seam gas water is emerging as a possible alternate water source for some uses for the region. The 4350water blog is a collective effort and thanks go to its many contributors.
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58 Comments:
And congratulations to these people.
And guess what they use recycled water on their garden, the council could take a leaf out of their book instead of using potable bore water on parks and gardens, and also supplying that water to most of the home gardens participating in the competition.
These people are using recycled water how it should be - NOT FOR DRINKING!!!!!
12:07 PM, September 19, 2007
Hear hear!!!
5:25 PM, September 19, 2007
They also have the money to put in their own system.
We can only afford tanks and then we have to bucket it to the plants.
It's back braking work!!
7:56 PM, September 19, 2007
Their use of a treatment system for their grey water and the use of tank water which captures all hard surface water (even from the pool house roof) is to be applauded.
8:28 PM, September 19, 2007
The point that has to be made is that most people can not afford to do such a scheme and it is not fare that these same people have to bucket water to their precious plants.
These dedicated gardeners would love to have a great garden except that thay have to live under these dreadful water restrictions.
10:29 PM, September 19, 2007
The carnival of flowers must continue even with the drought.
11:08 PM, September 19, 2007
If that is the case, don't use scare tactics and lead the community into believing that they will run out of water!
Many people are concerned that the visitors to the Carnival of Flowers will use water that they will desperately need in the future because they will run long showers and use spa tubs at the motels.
It does not make sense to water annuals with a precious commodity when they will be pulled out in the next week or so.
The Carnival of Flowers can and should have been postponed!
5:59 AM, September 20, 2007
you can't postpone the carnival
10:13 AM, September 20, 2007
Go talk to the ratepayers and you will get the anger the community feel!
I have talked to hairdresser , news agency people, Butcher, people in the street and they see no sense in this Carnival of Flowers being held.
If watering annual flowers is acceptable to the community then why is it not being done by Council tankers instead it is delivered to these selected few gardens by private contractors.
The people are watching.
Flower beds in the parks appeared only a month or so ago.
Where they grown on council sites because the knew how a large % of people felt? These plants were kept out of sight of the concerned community until recently and then garden bed with nearly full grown plants appeared.
This is Thorley's last chance to hang her hat on something which she could claim as a success but the community have already judge this women and her crew!!
This sort of thinking got us into this mess and it won't get us out.
10:51 AM, September 20, 2007
the carnival must go ahead
1:27 PM, September 20, 2007
Tell me why the Carnival MUST go ahead?
4:27 PM, September 20, 2007
there's plenty of water and it's a great event and it brings tourist money into the city
6:01 PM, September 20, 2007
If there is plenty of water then give the residents some to use in their homes instead of having us on level 5 restriction which = level 6 or 7 any where else.
Stuff the tourists it the catch cry from most of us out here!!!
6:06 PM, September 20, 2007
the tourists bring money to spend and the city benefits - don't kill off the city's most colourful event just because you hate the current council and what they have done - the carnival will survive the current council and needs people's support
6:18 PM, September 20, 2007
Rubbish, the tourist only brings money into a few businesses. Hotels, motels, eating houses. It is not across the board. It does not benefit the whole of Toowoomba. It is isolated to only a few "necessary" areas. Ask around. Ask music places. ask Hardware. Just ask. One has to way up those who may benefit and as to how much is taken, ie our precious water in return. Our council "God help us" use the lack of water argument according to their own beliefs, desires, call it what you will. They would have to be the most illiterate, self seeking, useless and might I add greedy mob of councilers we had the misfortune
to have in office.
6:40 PM, September 20, 2007
no event benefits the whole of Toowoomba - the tourists aren't going to come to your house and stuff banknotes in your letterbox - they buy food, fuel, stay in a motel, eat in the restaurants, maybe take in a movie or buy a CD, go home and tell their friends how beautiful Toowoomba is even in a drought - and there's enough water for them - what should we do - lock the gates to Toowoomba and not let anyone in because they might flush a toilet
6:50 PM, September 20, 2007
No locking of doors necessary, nor do we need extreme measures, just try a little common sense. Why not just postpone the event temporarily. Rain will come and we will be able to hold the event in all its glory, and it will be wonderful again. On Win news tonight whilst talking about the wonderful and beautiful gardens and the work that has gone into them, they had to say we have had only 28mls this year. Even they cant get the story right.
7:08 PM, September 20, 2007
why postpone - the city looks great - we should show just how great this city is despite the drought and all the negative actions of the council
7:12 PM, September 20, 2007
This is a disaster and the Mayor has the blame laid squarely at her feet.
She spend so much time in the last 2 years telling the rest of Australia that we are very short of water and that we were going to drink recycled sewage water that they now believe her so they are staying away in droves.
There are no bus loads of people coming to see this carnival and they will take a lot of convincing to come back by a better Mayor in the future.
If the drought continues then there should not be a Carnival of Flowers next year and sense must prevail.
Has any-one seen the ridiculous painted bikes in the middle of the garden in Margaret Street?
This is the yuppie rubbish they have resorted to .
7:54 PM, September 20, 2007
carnival is a week when everyone can put down the hate for a week - the buses will be here next week - the city will bloom and everyone will have a great time - and a new council next year will help to solve the concerns of the Toowoomba people
8:11 PM, September 20, 2007
time runs away fast enough now without wishing it away even faster, but March 2008 just can't come fast enough.
Fanfares, and drum rolls are not good enough when this lot leave town, so lets bring on the old tar and feather and give them a lasting reminder of the stuff ups which was their term of office.
8:17 PM, September 20, 2007
the lasting reminder will be how fast the new council moves to adopt and implement a regional solution for water
winners will be grinners and the losers can leave town
8:29 PM, September 20, 2007
Tasmania is a good place to see them go.
Carnival of Flowers 2007 should not be happening but hey if we listen to Ruby Slippers (Michelle Schneider) we are to believe that this is the carnival where we do not have to have flowers!!!
Then why did they plant so many and use the water???
9:07 PM, September 20, 2007
Is Ruby having her six cents worth.
She nows that she is about to tossed out of council, and is makig sure she gets in the media now!
Good riddance & and to the other 4, seen as Di is leaving the sinking ship!
9:10 PM, September 20, 2007
it is the right decision to proceed with the carnival
10:22 PM, September 20, 2007
There is a broken record on this site.
The Carnival must proceed.
I remind them in the time of war all sorts of events are postponed and this is akin to that.
The general public are doing it hard and to use water needlessly on annuals and try to bring thousands of visitors to the city is absurd.
If the claim is right that we have water then let the community have some to water their gardens instead of them having to bucket their grey water and tank water .
It does not make sense and I can only conclude that the person continually say that the Carnival must go on is one of the favoured few Carnival gardeners who receive free water delivered to their home or some-one in a Council.
Bus loads of people are not coming and if you want to check this point out go ask the Mayor why she is running around like a hen with head chopped off to get the message out so that people will visit.
We are all proud Toowoomba residents and we can see that a big mistake has been made.
It more about pandering to large corporate organisations who have signed up with this Council over a number of years than it is about just having the Carnival of Flowers for the public.
It is all about funny art and a food and wine festival in the big tent.
The only good thing is that they forecast rain on Saturday afternoon and I pray this is so and give us all some relief.
7:15 AM, September 21, 2007
the carnival must proceed - it is Toowoomba's only really recognised event Australia wide - the motels are full on Saturday night - I don't get free water - wish I did
9:24 AM, September 21, 2007
The C of F must be cancelled!! Do it now!!
11:34 AM, September 21, 2007
The motels are only full because there is 2 big wedding and the wedding parties have booked them out a long time ago.
If you need ask the head of the Motel association. The person spoke on Win news last week and tols the sad story.
2:57 PM, September 21, 2007
It is interesting to note the approach that is always taken with these subjects by those with vested interests, "the C of F must go on" said in a dictator style, don't question my authority voice. Usually followed by a vague statistic that's source can never be traced...
In this case the statistic is that the carnival brings in millions of dollars to our community.
I think that any independant reveiw of this would find that the carnival actually costs Toowoomba dearly. Apart from the hopitality sector most businesses see no fiscal benefit from this and for many the carnival totally wipes out their trading during the week either side.
I commend those who have been able to keep their gardens going without town water, however it is completely unjust to deliver huge amounts of free water to the chosen few and treat anyone else who dares to use a drop outside like a criminal. We all pay our rates, we all pay for the infrastucture.
I paid for my plants like the next person so why should mine die and theirs thrive?
Furthermore, councils even refuses to give me a rebate for a tank if I use the water on my plants.
I personally will not have anything to do with this carnival and believe many others will do the same.
5:08 PM, September 21, 2007
the carnival must proceed - there is no other option
7:46 PM, September 21, 2007
It will be a disaster!!
I watched the 7.30 Report and the information on that show will not help to bring people to this city.
They said that they had to do the launch in Brisbane and I like to know why?
All this show did was to remind Brisbane that we are in a drought and maybe we drink water from the sewage plant.
They showed gardens with silly coloured bottled and shower roses sprayed with silver paint.
It will proceed and it will be at a financial cost to the ratepayer.
The new Mayor and the council will have to do a monumental promotion of this city to rectify all of this damage which been done.
Yet again a PR nightmare and Thorley was at the centre once more.
10:25 PM, September 21, 2007
There weren't many people at the Brisbane launch. The outgoing Mayor looked like she had no fight left in her - she looked deflated on Stateline. Guess she doesn't care any more.
10:49 PM, September 21, 2007
the carnival must proceed
9:58 AM, September 22, 2007
As we speak the Carnival is proceeding and it's a lovely sunny day!!
That's not to say that it should not have as it will run at a loss and we will have to pay for another Thorley pigheaded blunder!
12:22 PM, September 22, 2007
Fun or Foolish - Foolish!!!
6:41 PM, September 22, 2007
It was definitely foolish as we witnessed on the news this evening.
Mayor Thorley was on the news and she fell all over the army person as well as crying every time she opened her mouth.
She needs to take a break and go to Tasmania early. She is showing signs of a person who is not stable.
6:51 PM, September 22, 2007
ABC News at 7pm Sat got it wrong when they said the gardens were supplied with recycled water. It's bore water.
7:33 PM, September 22, 2007
They would have been reporting what this Mayor and her yes pack told them. The lies just keep coming and the media are happy to help out.
10:40 PM, September 22, 2007
fun - the carnival must proceed
9:06 AM, September 23, 2007
Enjoyed the parade yesterday but why was the mayor crying all the time?
9:13 AM, September 23, 2007
Excerpt from the Sunday Mail:
23 September 2007
"The grand central parade was watched by an estimated 30,000-plus people along the 1.2km route.
Twenty-two floats took part, joined by dozens of walkers and marchers."
22 floats this year seems a little light ...
9:24 AM, September 23, 2007
We had the first hail storm last night and I think it will be the start of a good season.
Thorley cried so many crocodile tears yesterday that we should have captured them on poured on the gardens.
She needs help.
10:11 AM, September 23, 2007
Only 22 floats in the parade seems a bit light on.
To think that one of the floats was a Ute with a crying Mayor Thorley in the back!
She is not very well and I prescribe a permanent break in Tasmania and for it to take effect immediately.
Then that will be a happy day!
12:35 PM, September 23, 2007
Well Mr/Ms anonymous who kept up with the incredible "The carnival has to continue" dialogue. 22 floats or rather 21 with a drippy Mayor in a ute if you want to call that a floral float, colourful bikes, shower heads, instant blossoms in our gardens, heaps of money outlaid with the massive entertainment and marques, etc, etc. Will we be informed honestly, of whether there was in fact a profitable return or not? And will that information also include the extra amount of water used with the extra number of people in town.
Somehow I doubt it. This lot that are on the council now along with CEO's, Engineers, couldn't lie straight in bed if their lives depended on it.
1:03 PM, September 23, 2007
there is plenty of water - the carnival must proceed
5:21 PM, September 23, 2007
You'll never get the true story on the Carnival from THIS council!!
5:37 PM, September 23, 2007
So now we have plenty of water-that's not the story we were told a bit over a year ago. The taps were going to run dry and we had to drink recycled sewage water!!
It is criminal that these Yes Case Councillors have been able to get away with outrageous lies.
6:29 PM, September 23, 2007
Vote them out when the election comes around in March!!
6:41 PM, September 23, 2007
ok- so there's plenty of water around- the carnival must proceed, Where does that leave the ordinary Mr. and Mrs. citizen who have to stand by and watch their gardens die 'cos if they connect their hoses to a tap and water their precious plants, they suffer a hefty fine. and that's supposedly because the dams are near empty and there's so little water left. I see the little old lady toddle out with her saucepan of water to water her plants and there is absolutely no compassion or leniency for her or any other elderly person, but we can spend up big for this carnival because there's plenty of water. So we either obey and dry up- or disobey and pay up. We are certainly not winners. I can't wait till next March- I want them out now before they stuff up further. I know there will not be a reasonable response, so let me save your aching fingers and say it for you ---there's plenty of water, the carnival must go on.
7:37 PM, September 23, 2007
I thought that there was supposed to be 60 floats? or was that another purported lie?
10:31 PM, September 23, 2007
22 or 60 floats - doesn't matter - the carnival must proceed
11:23 PM, September 23, 2007
The reason the Carnival was better attended this year is because the Council reverted to having it during school holidays unlike the debacle last year!
9:40 AM, September 24, 2007
I agree - that's why the numbers were up from last year.
12:20 PM, September 24, 2007
From the council's website - Cancelling the Carnival of Flowers altogether would be a shortsighted decision on Council’s part. A decision of this nature would not relieve the current water shortages but would certainly have an adverse effect upon the many business operators who would suffer from the decline in economic injections in the city.
11:12 PM, September 24, 2007
How come the concerns of the many are out weighed by the few!!
They did not have the water to spare.
7:18 AM, September 25, 2007
Can someone explain to poor dumb Michelle that the water they were pooring on these gardens was sub artesian bore water, not GAB water, therefore quoting how many millions of litres the GAB holds is irrelevent and stupid!
1:34 PM, September 26, 2007
the carnival did proceed
8:02 PM, September 29, 2007
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