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.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Anna Bligh gets her 640 spin doctors going on recycled water advertising ...

Excerpt from Sydney Morning Herald:

Qld shouldn't fear recycled water: Bligh

10 November 2008

South-east Queenslanders shouldn't fear that drinking water will soon include recycled and desalinated water as well as fluoride, Premier Anna Bligh says.

Ms Bligh has launched an advertising campaign ahead of the introduction of fluoridated water, which will be available to 90 per cent of homes in the state's south-east by the end of December.

She said it was time for the region to catch up with other areas such as Sydney and Melbourne.

"It is not only proven safe, it's been a proven and effective way to improve the dental health, particularly of children," Ms Bligh said.

Fluoride will be rolled out to the rest of the state by 2012.

There has been vocal opposition to fluoride, and over recent weeks, growing disapproval of the government's drought-proofing program, which will see recycled water from three treatment plants pumped into Wivenhoe Dam early next year.

The Australian newspaper on Monday reported the National Health and Medical Research Council had warned the government against recycled water except as a last resort.

But the group's water quality advisory committee chairman Professor Don Bursill said steps were well advanced to ensure the water's safety.

"The Queensland government has prepared itself well for this strategy," he said in a statement.

Ms Bligh said she welcomed debate on the issue, but it must be based on facts.

"Water is one of the largest global challenges of the 21st century," she said.

"Queensland and Queensland know-how is right at the front of providing new solutions.

"This is something that we can be proud of, not fearful of."

The only thing that would stop the government using recycled water for drinking would be overflowing dams, Ms Bligh said.

Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg said recycled water went against common sense.

"The LNP's position is it should be last resort only, and that all water should be recycled and that should be going into agriculture, it should be going to industry, it should be going to power generation, freeing up fresh potable water for people to drink," Mr Springborg said.

"It's just too risky long-term to put treated sewage into your fresh water supplies, because if something goes wrong, there's a breakdown in the system, you've got nowhere to go."

10 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

gotta vote them out!

4:45 PM, November 10, 2008

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

thought there was still months of testing to do ... before the AOK could be given. Looks like water quality doesn't matter .. Anna has said only an overflowing dam will stop her!

7:26 PM, November 10, 2008

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Recycled water something to be proud of, says Anna Bligh

Qlders should be proud of drinking water soon to include recycled and desalinated water as well as fluoride, Premier Anna Bligh says.

Proud - yeah right.

7:51 PM, November 10, 2008

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Check Parliament next year. While the politicians may do a photo op of drinking recycled sewage, it will be chilled Perrier all round in Parliament and in the Executive Offices from then on. And Anna Bligh will be laughing that she got people to drink recycled sewage and they still vote for her.

8:16 PM, November 10, 2008

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Just like Di using the public money - to push her propaganda down people's throats - she must go with most of her colleagues - they are like aliens that have taken over our State

8:23 PM, November 10, 2008

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

ABC News:

Qld launches fluoride ads

10 November 2008

The State Government has begun fluoride ads on radio and TV to prepare south-east Queenslanders for the change later this year.

Fluoride will be added to drinking supplies around the state over the next few years, beginning in the south-east.

Health Minister Stephen Robertson says the Government is open and accountable about fluoride.

"[We're] not being sneaky, but being very up front about it," he said.

Premier Anna Bligh says similar advertisements may also be aired for recycled and desalinated water next year.

She says she welcomes a debate about recycled water, as long as it is honest.

"I do call for that debate to be well informed, and for it to be honest and for it to be accurate," she said.

She says some newspaper reporting of the recycling issue has been irresponsible.

9:58 PM, November 10, 2008

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

QLD Parliament Petitions: CURRENT E-PETITION
Subject: Prohibit the use of recycled sewerage effluent for drinking purposes http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/view/EPetitions_QLD/CurrentEPetition.aspx?PetNum=1141&lIndex=-1

10:26 PM, November 10, 2008

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

One minute the LNP are telling us that they do not agree with us drinking processed sewage and then they are going to do all in their power to get money to help the regional council build the bloody pipeline from Wivenhoe with recycled water in it.
We have all heard Anna Bligh say she is just going to do it and never mind what we want or think. That goes for the other side if they got in too.

Why do we bother to vote , I ask my self all the time now?

10:51 PM, November 10, 2008

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

We all know how bad the water situation is in South East Queensland.

Don't you agree desperate measures need to be taken?

The United Kingdom, Norway and India have been drinking purified water for decades, and don't you think we would know about it if their ever was a problem with it? Maybe the government wouldn't tell us but we all know how fast news spreads.

Surely you all know that the water goes through seven stages of purification before it's allowed to be drunk?

Trust me, the government isn't going to purposely kill off their voters.

By drinking purified water, we're all doing our bit to help the water situation.

I, personally, don't understand why - after all the evidence provided - people still believed their drinking other people's poo.

5:56 PM, November 12, 2008

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

7 stages? Barrier 1 is the non-existent voluntary sewage barrier.

India, Norway and the UK do NOT have planned potable reuse.

There is NO need to rush to put recycled sewage into Wivenhoe.

9:18 PM, November 12, 2008

 

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