LNP - Bligh’s water policy in tatters ...

LNP Media Release:

Bligh’s water policy in tatters

25 November 2008

The Beattie-Bligh Government’s water policy is in tatters after Premier Bligh announced a delay in Traveston Crossing Dam and looked to the Queensland Water Commission for an out on recycled water, the LNP said today.

LNP Leader Lawrence Springborg said Labor was scrambling to back down on their unpopular water policy in a desperate bid to win back voters.

“This is nothing more than a poll driven decision,” he said.

“The ALP and the Queensland Water Commission have been polling people on adding recycled sewage into drinking supplies and they’ve had the fright of their lives because Labor has got water planning wrong.

“The LNP has always said that recycled water should be directed to power, industry and appropriate agriculture and only placed in drinking supplies as an absolute last resort."

Mr Springborg said the Bligh Labor Government had stooped to new levels of absurd spin by trying to blame cows for damaging the Mary River and threatening wildlife, while their dam would wipe out endangered species and permanently wreck the river.

“It’s time to dump Traveston Crossing Dam once and for all and replace it with the LNP’s plan for a desalination plant at Bribie Island powered by renewable energy," he said.

“Desalination will produce fewer greenhouse emissions than the dam and will save $800 million in upfront costs.

“It’s outright hypocrisy for the Beattie-Bligh Government to criticise the LNP’s water strategy. The Premier is going to the Gold Coast this weekend to open a desalination plant and their own water strategy shows plans to build another four desalination plants over the next 40 years.”

Mr Springborg said the Beattie-Bligh Government’s water plan was falling apart and voters were angry at being forced to drink recycled sewage in light of today’s dam levels.

“The Beattie-Bligh Government gave their word that recycled water would only be added into drinking supplies in an Armageddon situation, then they promised a referendum and then they decided they would add recycled sewage to drinking supplies no matter what," he said.

“Premier Bligh is now running scared and is looking to the Queensland Water Commission to provide her with a way out of introducing recycled sewage into the dams.

“The LNP has listened to Queenslanders and we’ve listened to scientific experts. Our promise to scrap Traveston Crossing Dam and direct recycled water to industry is rock solid and we challenge the Premier to decide likewise.”

Mr Springborg said as the State Election got closer, he expected Anna Bligh would continue to look to the LNP for guidance on commonsense policy positions.