Anna Bligh sends Toowoomba ratepayers $112 million invoice ...

Excerpt from the Chronicle:

Bligh sticks us with $112m water bill

30 October 2008

Work continues on the south-east Queensland water grid to supply Toowoomba with recycled water.

Toowoomba ratepayers will be forced to fork out $112 million for a recycled water pipeline that they didn’t want.

The Bligh Government yesterday announced that it would contribute "up to" $75 million of the $187 million pipeline project linking Cressbrook Dam to Wivenhoe Dam.

This would mean ratepayers might have to pay at least $69 a year extra in water rates.

Toowoomba voted against using recycled water at a Toowoomba City Council referendum in July, 2006.

Deputy Premier Paul Lucas said it would be up to the Toowoomba Regional Council to determine its own "retail price path for ratepayers".

Toowoomba Regional Council mayor Peter Taylor met with the Water Commission yesterday afternoon.

He said the State Government was never going to build the pipeline for free.

"It would be unreasonable to ask for a free pipeline, that would be a fantastic gift for Christmas but an unreasonable expectation."

He said the council would now look for ways to finance the $112 million gap.

Cr Taylor said the TRC would approach the Commonwealth Government to help with the funding.

"It (the State Government funding) is a significant offer but we need to work through the detail about what it means to our residents.

"This council supports the construction of the pipeline and we’re pleased (the State Government) has made the decision to help with the funding."

Mr Lucas said the Toowoomba Regional Council had made it very clear it wanted to retain ownership of its water assets which would include this pipeline.

The council did not want to join the South-East Queensland water grid at this stage.

Cr Taylor said the Toowoomba region had water assets worth more than a billion dollars.

The State Government’s proposal did not include seizing those assets.

Mr Lucas said the pipeline would be able to supply up to 14,200 million litres of water a year if needed, which was more than 50 per cent of Toowoomba’s current demand.

He said the pipeline would be commissioned and fully operational by the end of January, 2010.

See - Bligh sticks us with $112m water bill.

And what is the Toowoomba Regional Council saying - 'thank you Anna, please beat us up some more, we like it, we're not here to stick up for ratepayers, we'll do whatever you tell us to' ...