Summer storms ...

See - Courier Mail - Storm hits Southeast.

QGC insider trading - BG sacks senior executive over trades ...

See - Sydney Morning Herald - BG sacks senior executive over trades.

4350water blog - 2008 in review ...

28 March 2008

It was clear that all of the sewer sipping ladies (5 of the 6 Yes Councillors) were gone from the Toowoomba City Council.

Two would later attempt a revival at the by-election in December 2008 only to be soundly rejected once again by the voters.

By year end, even Premier Anna Bligh was worried about the implications of trying to force people to drink recycled water ...

Toowoomba City Council - the Class of 2004

GONE!

GONE!

GONE!

GONE!

GONE!


No more gourmet sandwiches, no more interstate
and overseas trips at ratepayers' expense!

Following San Diego and Caboolture Shire,
this marks the third Council where most if not all Councillors
have been removed following proposals to introduce potable reuse.

You'd think they'd learn ...

4350water blog's 12 days of Christmas ...

On the first day of Christmas

the council gave to me

a brand new Toowoomba flagpole

On the second day of Christmas

the voters gave to me

two sippers again rejected

and a brand new Toowoomba flagpole

On the third day of Christmas

the QWC head gave to me

three corporate collapses

two sippers again rejected

and a brand new Toowoomba flagpole

On the fourth day of Christmas

the council gave to me

four new bores

three corporate collapses

two sippers again rejected

and a brand new Toowoomba flagpole

On the fifth day of Christmas

the PM gave to me

five percent emission targets

four new bores

three corporate collapses

two sippers again rejected

and a brand new Toowoomba flagpole

On the sixth day of Christmas

the government gave to me

six Bligh backflips

five percent emission targets

four new bores

three corporate collapses

two sippers again rejected

and a brand new Toowoomba flagpole

On the seventh day of Christmas

the water grid gave to me

seven so called barriers

six Bligh backflips

five percent emission targets

four new bores

three corporate collapses

two sippers again rejected

and a brand new Toowoomba flagpole

On the eighth day of Christmas

the Premier gave to me

eight botox sessions

seven so called barriers

six Bligh backflips

five percent emission targets

four new bores

three corporate collapses

two sippers again rejected

and a brand new Toowoomba flagpole

On the ninth day of Christmas

the voters gave to me

nine lazy councillors

eight botox sessions

seven so called barriers

six Bligh backflips

five percent emission targets

four new bores

three corporate collapses

two sippers again rejected

and a brand new Toowoomba flagpole

On the tenth day of Christmas

the government gave to me

ten times 64 spin doctors

nine lazy councillors

eight botox sessions

seven so called barriers

six Bligh backflips

five percent emission targets

four new bores

three corporate collapses

two sippers again rejected

and a brand new Toowoomba flagpole

On the eleventh day of Christmas

Toowoomba gave to me

eleven percent dam water

ten times 64 spin doctors

nine lazy councillors

eight botox sessions

seven so called barriers

six Bligh backflips

five percent emission targets

four new bores

three corporate collapses

two sippers again rejected

and a brand new Toowoomba flagpole

On the twelfth day of Christmas

the government gave to me

twelve percent recycled industrial waste

eleven percent dam water

ten times 64 spin doctors

nine lazy councillors

eight botox sessions

seven so called barriers

six Bligh backflips

five percent emission targets

four new bores

three corporate collapses

two sippers again rejected

and a brand new Toowoomba flagpole

Merry Christmas ...

Geelong works on major new recycled water project ...

The scheme would supply recycled water through a network of pipelines to agricultural irrigation and recreational users such as golf courses and sporting ovals.

It would also provide a dual water-supply system for new residential development and commercial and industrial customers.

See - Major water project on the cards.

Also see - JazzWater.

Qld Mayors get pay rise - shiny happy people ...

Queensland's mayors have won themselves yet another remuneration increase after complaining they are both overworked and underpaid.

But despite the extra cash, they have been told to spend less time dealing with ratepayers and more time focusing on "strategic plans".

From January 1, 29 mayors will have their maximum remuneration level increased by 5 per cent - only months after they were awarded pay increases of up to 20 per cent to reflect the extra work involved with amalgamation. CPI currently is running at 3 per cent.

Among those to receive pay rises are Redland City Council Mayor Melva Hobson and Toowoomba Regional Council Mayor Peter Taylor , who will now earn an extra $6324, taking their salaries to $145,544.
...

Councillors are complaining that they do not get raffle tickets or charity donations on expenses; Deputy mayors are demanding extra money for filling in for the mayor; Money is being wasted by councils awarding maximum salaries to councillors.

See - Courier Mail - 'Overworked, underpaid' Queensland mayors win pay rises.

Calculate your water footprint ...

See - Water Footprint - Calculate your water footprint - quick check.

Or try the long version - Water footprint - detailed calculation.

By no means accurate ...

SEQ water - Brisbane pushes ahead with water recycling plan ...

Brisbane pushes ahead with water recycling plan

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Broadcast: 19 November 2008

Reporter: Peter McCutcheon

Questions are being raised as to why the Queensland Government is pushing ahead with a contentious multi-billion dollar water recycling scheme, despite a reasonably wet year in the states south-east.

Transcript

KERRY O'BRIEN, PRESENTER: Brisbane's devastating storm this week damaged thousands of homes, but also brought welcome rain to the region's catchments, rounding off what has been a reasonably wet year for south-east Queensland after years of drought.

And that's why questions are being raised as to why the Queensland Government is pushing ahead with a contentious multi-billion dollar water recycling scheme.

From early next year, Brisbane will be the first city in Australia to have its drinking supplies topped up by purified recycled water sourced from sewage treatment plants.

Peter McCutcheon reports from Brisbane.

MERILYN HAINES, QUEENSLANDERS FOR SAFE WATER: We don't live in the middle of a desert. We don't live on a space ship where you have to have recycle water. It's not desperate times.

JOHN BRADLEY, QUEENSLAND WATER COMMISSION: The key thing is not to count our chickens before they're hatched.

PETER MCCUTCHEON, REPORTER: South-east Queensland is recovering from one of the worst droughts on the record.

But the State Government is committed to a $2.4 billion dollar water recycling project as insurance against future droughts, climate change and the demands of a growing population.

The Queensland Premier Anna Bligh is resisting calls to cut off the supply of recycled water to Brisbane's Wivenhoe Dam.

ANNA BLIGH, QUEENSLAND PREMIER: the only circumstance that I could see is if we got so much rain that the dams were overflowing and there was frankly nowhere to put it.

SNOW MANNERS, TOOWOOMBA COUNCILLOR: We'll have to drink recycled water because it's the Armageddon solution. The Armageddon solution, there is destruction confronting us, therefore we must drink from the sewers.

PETER MCCUTCHEON: The debate over Australia's largest and most ambitious water recycling project has seen at least one scientist break ranks about advanced water purification.

PETER COLLIGNON, ANU MICROBIOLOGIST: My view is that this is good technology or as good technology as you can get, but you should only use it as last resort, you shouldn't use it routinely.

PAUL GREENFIELD, CHEMICAL ENGINEER, UNI. OF QLD: The risks will be no higher; in fact in some cases they will be lower.

KEITH DAVIES, BUNDAMA WASTE TREATMENT: By the time we get the water, it's almost clear.

PETER MCCUTCHEON: The head of the Western Corridor Recycled Water project, Keith Davies, took the 7.30 Report on a guided tour of a water treatment station at Bundamba, west of Brisbane.

(Extract, Corporate Video)

NARRATOR: Our droplet then takes the first step toward purification.

(Extract ends)

PETER MCCUTCHEON: He explained how the water is put through micro filtration, a reverse osmosis membrane, then finally a process called advanced oxidation.

KEITH DAVIES: I'm passing it through a very intense dosage of ultraviolet light.

PETER MCCUTCHEON: So you zap it?

KEITH DAVIES: We zap it. This is hundreds of times stronger than the sun.

PAUL GREENFIELD: The water coming out of the advanced water treatment plant and going into the dam is in fact cleaner than a lot of the water that runs across the land on which there may be cattle feed lots etc going into the dam.

DR PETER COLLIGNON: This is basically a high risk procedure and also in fact very high in energy use as well.

One scientist who does have a different view is microbiologist Professor Peter Collignon from the Australian National University.

He concedes Queensland is using state-of-art technology, but he's worried that over time, something could go wrong.

Would it also be fair to say that you expertise is in microbiology, not in water technology?

DR PETER COLLIGNON, MICROBIOLOGIST, ANU: Well I think it's true, but I do know that germs kill lots of people and I've seen the effects of those and I do know that some of those germs got through the water we could have a lot of people very sick.

PETER MCCUTCHEON: So what's the general public to make of all this?

Well the definitive authority in Australia is the National Health and Medical Research Council's Advisory Committee on water quality chaired by Professor Don Bursall who hasn't always been a fan of recycled drinking water.

DON BURSALL, WATER SCIENTIST, NHMRC: My personal preference is for water authorities to have a look at all the other conventional options first.

PETER MCCUTCHEON: However Professor Bursall says he's been impressed by both the technology and regulatory regime being proposed in Queensland, and his committee looked closely at whether the risks can managed.

DON BURSALL: We came to the conclusion that they can, and can be made very safe and the risks aren't zero but neither are they in conventional water supply systems, but we felt that they were virtually as safe as conventional water systems.

PETER MCCUTCHEON: The debate amongst scientists has been seized on by opponents of water recycling, such as Merilyn Haines from Queenslanders for Safe Water, who organised a meeting of concerned residents in Brisbane on the weekend.

SNOW MANNERS: We don't know what it is that we don't know about. And history would tell us that that's a very, very dangerous place to go.

MERILYN HAINES: If there's a risk, if there's a danger, then you should be using the precautionary principle, you shouldn't be bulldozing ahead using untried technology. I mean, no one in the world does this.

PAUL GREENFIELD: We're not being guinea pigs. There are a number of places, not a huge number, that have this direct or planned, I should say, recycle approach.

PETER MCCUTCHEON: But the Queensland Water Commission says the whole international comparison debate is a furphy, because just about everyone consumes recycled sewage water in some form.

JOHN BRADLEY: Anyone that's living in Sydney is receiving supplementation from sewage treatment plants upstream of Warragamba Dam and similar supplementation occurs in Melbourne and in Adelaide.

PETER MCCUTCHEON: As the construction of Australia's biggest water recycling project comes to an end, the scene is being set for a possible political showdown, with the Queensland Opposition promising to only use recycled water when the dams are critically low.

But this multi-billion dollar piece of infrastructure has been designed for the long-term, not an emergency stop gap.

PETER COLLIGNON: We are better off taking the lowest lot of risks we can take.

JOHN BRADLEY: We have every confidence that the water that goes into the dam will be higher than the quality of the dam itself and that the system as a whole will pose no additional risk to public safety and public health in south-east Queensland.

KERRY O'BRIEN: Peter McCutcheon reporting from Brisbane.

See - ABC 7:30 Report - Brisbane pushes ahead with water recycling plan.

No recycled water for Bligh government Ministerial drivers ...

... State government pays bottled water bills.

Ministers and their staff are enjoying new perks, including $30 a month in bottled water for their limousine drivers, despite the economic downturn.

See - Courier Mail - State Government ministers pile on the perks.

Rainbank - a household water harvesting system ...

Excerpt from Rainbank.com.au:

RainBank is an automatic controller for rainwater harvesting.

RainBank is produced by Davey Water Products, Australia's leading designer and manufacturer of water transfer pumps and pressure systems for the rural, domestic, industrial, pool and spa markets.

Incorporated into the design of new homes or retrofitted to existing properties, RainBank controls the water supply for toilet or laundry applications by automatically switching the water source from the domestic mains to rainwater when a demand is sensed and rainwater is available in the storage tank.

RainBank is the first product to use rainwater as the water supply for toilet and laundry applications in the metropolitan area and control it automatically. It can save up to 40% of a household's drinking water supply which is normally used in these applications, thereby helping conserve Australia's precious water resources.

How it works:

When a toilet is flushed or a washing-machine begins to fill the RainBank system detects this demand and automatically checks to see if there is sufficient water in the rainwater storage tank.

If there is sufficient rainwater then RainBank switches the supply to this source and completes the demand cycle. Once the demand cycle is complete RainBank automatically switches off.

If the rainwater supply is depleted at any time during a demand cycle or prior to a demand cycle, RainBank provides mains water to fulfil the demand. In the case of a power failure, RainBank automatically supplies mains water as the backup.

See - Rainbank.com.au.

Why the next Qld state election may be before April 2009 ...

See - Courier Mail - Bligh and Beattie may take stand in Nuttall corruption trial.

LNP candidate springs into action on recycled water issue ...

Liberal National Party candidates are determined to make recycled drinking water an election issue, even if the State Government has delayed a decision on the controversial scheme.

LNP candidate for Bulimba Paul Walker has been handing out bottled spring water to voters in the electorate to reinforce his opposition to the recycling scheme.

The scheme, which would recycle sewage back into the region’s dams, was to proceed early next year but was delayed by the State Government until dams fell below 40 per cent.

Mr Walker acknowledged State Government studies showed drinking recycled water was not a risk to public health.

He said part of the LNP’s solution was to build a Bribie Island desalination plant.

See - South East Advertiser - LNP candidate springs into action on recycled water issue.

Is Reclaimed Wastewater Too Contaminated to Use, or Too Valuable to Waste ...

Recycled Wastewater Contaminates Crops

Recycled water is being used extensively for irrigation in the Salinas Valley. There are about 12,000 acres of leafy green and other consumed raw crops in that area, and the reclaimed water from the Monterey sewer plant goes out to these crops. Salinas is an area that has experienced numerous problems with pathogen-contaminated foods, but the state has seldom, if ever, looked at recycled water as part of the problem. Why? Answer, in part: too much political capital at risk.

In Orcutt, part of the Santa Maria Valley, recycled water is used for irrigating strawberries and broccoli. The county owns the sewer plant that produces this water. When I explained to officials there why we—myself, with a few other interested scientists—were testing the water, they refused to allow us to test, and then I was contacted by county counsel. We have looked at six other sewer plants that are licensed by the state to produce similar water under Title 22, and all produced chlorine-resistant bacteria that were released in the final product.

We looked more closely at two, Santa Barbara’s and Goleta’s, and noted multidrug-resistant bacteria coming through in the finished product. In the case of Santa Barbara, our Kirby Bauer test has 12 antibiotics—Santa Barbara's finished recycled water contained bacteria that were resistant to 11 of the 12 antibiotics and also were chlorine-resistant. This is water used on school playgrounds and parks. The state allows cities that produce recycled water to force its use on new developments. In the case of Santa Barbara, the city took the Montecito Country Club to court and forced it to accept recycled water for the golf course. The club apparently had refused on grounds of liability, which, considering the levels of pathogens, was a reasonable response. Nonetheless, the city prevailed.

In the Santa Rosa area, there is a push to irrigate thousands of acres, mainly vineyards, with recycled water. I’ve been told that the main underlying reason is that the effluent, when released to the Russian River, does not and cannot meet water quality standards. A similar situation prevails in Santa Paula—the water cannot meet standards and thus cannot be released to the river.

Thus the solution is to shunt it to ag. This has several advantages from an economic perspective. It will allow further development based on the saved potable use—the salvaged potable water can now go to new housing, thus enhancing tax revenue for cities in the area. Additionally, it can be sold or traded on the market to, say, Las Vegas, at very high prices.

As the drought increases, there will be more pressure (economic and political) to use recycled water on ag. This makes, to the untrained (the average politician), good sense. But as it now stands, this water is a risk to public health, and to clean it up according to the standards necessary to protect public health will make this water very expensive.

In many cases, that clean-up cost is associated with the mix of materials that reach the sewer plant. As it now stands, industrial waste is discharged to sewers, which causes the liability that would accrue to such toxic materials if put into a toxic waste dump to just disappear. This is a major liability, if you track the costs that fall back on industry, which are associated with, for example, failed toxic waste dumps like Casmalia. Thus, if something can be sewered, this liability falls to the wayside. There is a great deal of political capital associated with continuing this free ride and with keeping the information out of the public arena.

As the levels of drug-resistant bacteria expand, more will wind up in the sewer, and along with this the drugs needed to combat them. It is a revolving door that will empty onto the crops that we all consume. That will drive up the need for irradiating food, but that is a double-edged sword. As it becomes easier to nuke foods, the industry will then drop its sanitation levels to save money and the quality of the water used for raising crops consequently will fall.

...

See - Is Reclaimed Wastewater Too Contaminated to Use, or Too Valuable to Waste?

Global warming hits Las Vegas ...

See - Courier Mail photos - Global warming hits Las Vegas.

Majority reject recycled industrial and hospital waste in drinking water supplies ...

... 59 per cent of respondents believed the water should come from residential sources only, with industrial and hospital effluent, known as trade waste, precluded.

See - Most reject recycled industrial water in Queensland.

Only problem is the system created by Anna and her corporate mates doesn't separate the industrial and hospital waste ...

Anna Bligh admits no-one wants to buy her recycled water ...

On Monday, The Australian reported that no businesses had signed up as customers for recycled water, despite a claim by Ms Bligh that industry had embraced the plan.

Thirty per cent of water to be produced at three filtration plants in the western corridor scheme is earmarked for industry use, and Ms Bligh had insisted she was unaware of any businesses that had refused to sign up.

The Premier admitted yesterday that not a single company had signed a contract to buy recycled water.

See - Most reject recycled industrial water in Queensland.

QWC head Nosworthy gets ready for bankruptcy trifecta ...

And if you think you had a bad year, spare a thought for Elizabeth Nosworthy. She guided Commander Communications into the loving embrace of receivers, helped steer Babcock & Brown to the brink and, as the year closes, is poised for a trifecta, pulling the pacemaker on heart starter Ventracor.

See - SMH - Littered with busted billionaires and nouveau socialists.

Toowoomba Regional Council 2008 by-election - farewell former Crs Alroe and Englart ...

Toowoomba Regional Council 2008 by-election - the winner and losers ...

Final results (in position order)

• McVeigh, John - 20,556 - 25.2%
  

• Jones, Ian - 12,465 - 15.3%
  

• Barron, Graham - 10,124 - 12.4% 
  

• Englart, Sue - 8,437 - 10.4% 
  

• Cass, Noel - 8,126 - 10.0% 

• Alroe, Michele - 6,874 - 8.4%
  

• Orford, Grant - 3,305 - 4.1% 
  

• Pobar, Pat - 2,156 - 2.6% 
  

• Hunter, Avis - 2,156 - 2.6% 
  

• Sorensen, Ven - 1,804 - 2.2% 
  

• Berry, Rob - 1,603 - 2.0% 
  

• Keleher, Ian J - 1,432 - 1.8%
  

• INFORMAL - 1,338 - 1.6% 
  

• Elvery, Bruce - 1,069 - 1.3% 
  

Total Votes Counted - 81,445 - 82.65% 

Total Enrolled Voters - 98,537

Anna Bligh's Botox use 'no big deal' ...

See - ABC News - Bligh's Botox use 'no big deal'.

What does the future hold for Anna Bligh ...

See - ALP tide rises but Bligh is struggling.

See - Bligh's uphill struggle.

See - Anna needs to show more ticker.

2009 will be tough ...

Newest councillor sworn in to Toowoomba Regional Council ...

16 December 2008

Toowoomba businessman John McVeigh was sworn into City Hall today as the newest member of the Toowoomba Regional Council.

Mr McVeigh won the council by-election with 25.2 percent or 20,556 votes. His nearest rival, former Clifton Shire Mayor, Ian Jones gained 15.3 percent or 12,465 votes.

Mayor Peter Taylor warmly welcomed Cr McVeigh and wished him well in his new council role.

“Cr McVeigh is a family man with significant community involvement and business experience and he will bring a great deal of knowledge to this role. We welcome him on board.”

See - Newest councillor sworn in to TRC.

Toowoomba Regional Council 2008 by-election - final results ...

Final results:

• Keleher, Ian J - 1,432 - 1.8% 
  

• Cass, Noel - 8,126 - 10.0% 
  

• Sorensen, Ven - 1,804 - 2.2% 
  

• Alroe, Michele - 6,874 - 8.4% 
  

• Elvery, Bruce - 1,069 - 1.3% 
  

• Berry, Rob - 1,603 - 2.0% 
  

• McVeigh, John - 20,556 - 25.2%
  

• Pobar, Pat - 2,156 - 2.6% 
  

• Hunter, Avis - 2,156 - 2.6% 
  

• Jones, Ian - 12,465 - 15.3%
  

• Englart, Sue - 8,437 - 10.4% 
  

• Orford, Grant - 3,305 - 4.1% 
  

• Barron, Graham - 10,124 - 12.4% 

• INFORMAL - 1,338 - 1.6% 
  

• Total Votes Counted - 81,445 - 82.65% 
  

• Total Enrolled Voters - 98,537 
  

Just over 17% didn't bother to vote.

And it's all over for the recycled Councillors ...

Anna Bligh gets Labor MPs to do her recycled water taste testing ...

The State election is shaping up to be the battle of the bottle - Singapore NEWater v. Spring-borg water.

See - Recycled water on the nose.

Taste tests are the ultimate in PR spin marketing - they are completely useless for determining if the recycled water is ok or not.

Anyone using a test test is indulging in spin ...

Smith’s saves water waste ...

The Smith's Snackfood Company at Tingalpa in Queensland has reduced its water consumption by 16% through best practice water use on site.

See - Smith’s saves water waste.

QWC head Nosworthy goes for 3rd straight corporate collapse ...

Commander Communications, Babcock & Brown and now Ventricor on life support.

Investor tips:

1. Find out if the QWC head is on the board.

2. Avoid like the plague.

See - Biotech Ventracor is on life support.

SEQ recycled water - Business turns off effluent recycling ...

No businesses have signed up as customers for Queensland's $2.5 billion water recycling scheme, despite a claim by Premier Anna Bligh that industry has embraced the option of using recycled sewage and industrial effluent.

Fresh doubts about the viability of the scheme surfaced as Ms Bligh came under fire for axing rebates for rainwater tanks and other water-saving devices.

The state Government last month backed down on plans to pump 60 megalitres of waste water a day to southeast Queensland storages from February, rising to 238ML later in the year. Recycled water will be added to the drinking water supplies only if dam levels fall below 40 per cent.

The western corridor recycled water scheme was intending to deliver 10ML a day to industry from early next year, with 30 per cent of the water produced at its three filtration plants earmarked for industry use.

Ms Bligh said the Government was unaware of any "appropriate" industries that had refused to sign up to use the recycled water.

"Industry has embraced its use and is expected to continue to do so," she told The Australian.

However, government and industry sources confirmed that no businesses had signed contracts, although chemical manufacturer Incitec Pivot was expected to do so soon, and negotiations were continuing with a small number of other companies.
...

See - The Australian - Business turns off effluent recycling.

4350water blog twitter updates - what are you missing ...

Updates in the sidebar ...

California's draft recycled water policy ...

See - California - draft recycled water policy - 4 November 2008.

SEQ recycled water - LNP candidates on election trail with 'spring-borg' water ...

Thousands of South-East Queenslanders will this week be enjoying bottles of Queensland produced "All natural spring water - containing no recycled waste water", in a bid to highlight the difference between the LNP and Labor's water promises.

The three LNP candidates for Redlands, Cleveland and Capalaba hit the streets on Wednesday distributing the bottles, which carry a label saying "the LNP does not support placing recycled waste water into our drinking supplies. Don't trust Labor."

"The LNP has always been a strong advocate of recycling water but we've consistently said it should be directed towards power, industry and appropriate agriculture, and only placed into drinking water as an absolute last resort," the team said.

"Lots of people have said they will switch to drinking bottled water once recycled waste water enters the dams. "These bottles will serve as a reminder that the LNP will keep recycled waste water out of drinking supplies unless absolutely necessary," they said.

"Labor has flip-flopped and lied about recycled water, proving they just can't be trusted when it comes to putting recycled sewage into our drinking supplies.

"Premier Bligh's stance on this issue seems to be changing on almost a daily basis these days, and not even the Premier appears exactly certain what her position is any more.

The future of our water supply appears to depend entirely on the results of the latest round of taxpayer-funded polling by the Queensland Water Commission. "The only thing Labor has consistently delivered when it comes to recycled waste water is broken promises and uncertainty for people, in contrast to the LNP's consistent stance."

The LNP has also promised to scrap plans for the environmentally damaging Traveston Crossing Dam, replacing it with a desalination plant on Bribie Island and a greater focus on stormwater harvesting for homes and businesses. Peter, Mark and Paul said they had tried the bottled spring water and loved the taste.

"It tastes great and it's free from recycled waste water - just the way we want all our water to stay," they said. Information on the LNP's water policy can be found at www.climateproof.com.au.

See - Bay Journal - Saturation campaign by Liberal National Party.

Global warming doomsayer proved wrong on Perth ...

Doomsayers forecast Perth would run dry as a result of climate change, but the West Australian capital is awash with the most plentiful water supplies of all the mainland capitals.

Adelaide and Melbourne have replaced Perth and Brisbane as the cities facing water shortages.

The dire predictions for Perth and Brisbane were not fulfilled because of a combination of community effort, well-targeted infrastructure and more rain.

...

Ecologist Tim Flannery warned in 2005 that Perth faced "catastrophic failure" of its water supply due to climate change and could become the "first ghost metropolis". Professor Flannery could not be reached for comment yesterday.

See - The Australian - Water fight a running battle.

Tim Flannery =  fear and panic merchant = more media attention = more book sales = more money in his pocket ...

Recycled water safe for Yarra ...

See - The Age - Recycled water safe for Yarra.

Agent Orange found near Brisbane River ...

Dioxin, a toxic chemical used in the defoliant Agent Orange, has been found in soil near the Brisbane River.

Queensland's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Friday revealed the presence of dioxin in soil at an industrial site at Pinkenba and on the banks of a nearby drain which leads into the city's river.

An EPA statement said the company that owned the land, Incitec Pivot, made the discovery while carrying out soil tests under an environmental program.

The chemical manufacturer informed the EPA today.

It is believed the contamination dates back to the 1960s and 1970s when the land housed a factory which made Agent Orange - a herbicide used in the Vietnam War.

...

See - Agent Orange chemical found near river.

What else will end up in the recycled water ...

Toowoomba Regional Council 2008 by-election - John McVeigh secures council vacancy ...

Excerpt from the Chronicle:

McVeigh secures council vacancy

11 December 2008

Toowoomba businessman and father-of-six John McVeigh is in an unbeatable position to become the region's newest councillor.

Yesterday, he held 25.3 per cent of the vote, an amount regarded by many election followers as unassailable.

Fellow candidate Noel Cass has phoned to congratulate him on his victory.

However, Mr McVeigh said that it was not his place to declare an early victory before the official announcement on Tuesday at noon.

“I've decided that it's inappropriate to talk about victory until (returning officer) Norm Garsden has declared the ballot,” he said.

Mr Garsden yesterday said that he “couldn't see any other outcome” other than Mr McVeigh winning.

Candidate Ian Jones yesterday said he would not concede defeat, despite holding just 15.3% of the vote.

“I'm just like John and am happy to wait for the result,” he said.

While he wouldn't concede defeat, he did admit that it was “very unlikely” that there would be a last-minute surge of votes that would push him in front of Mr McVeigh.

At 43, Mr McVeigh will be the youngest councillor.

“If I am successful, I'm looking forward to working with the other councillors,” he said.

“I will be bringing my business background, knowledge of the region and energy to the position.”

Mr Garsden said his team counted only 475 votes yesterday and expected to count between 300 and 500 today.

Counting will finish today and resume on Tuesday morning.

Mr Garsden said about 80% to 90% of the 17,690 votes not received were from residents who had moved and not forwarded on their mail. The remaining votes not received were due to people simply not voting.

John McVeigh…20,414

Ian Jones…12,383

Graham Barron…10,079

Sue Englart…8360

Noel Cass…8066

Michele Alroe…6810

Grant Orford…3285

Pat Pobar…2144

Avis Hunter…2137

Ven Sorensen…1787

Rob Berry…1588

Ian J Keleher…1418

Bruce Elvery…1056

Informal…1320

Total votes counted…80,847

See - The Chronicle - McVeigh secures council vacancy.

Victoria debates recycled water v. desalination ...

See - The Age - People will drink recycled water.

4350water blog twitters ...

Follow the updates in the sidebar ...

SEQ water storage - current levels ...

• Atkinson Dam - 30.85%
  

• Baroon Pocket Dam - 100.00%

• Bill Gunn Dam - 21.97%

• Borumba Dam - 100.00%
  

• Cedar Pocket Dam - 100.00%
  

• Hinze Dam - 98.23%
  

• Lake Clarendon - 8.46%
  

• Lake Kurwongbah - 100.00%
  

• Lake Macdonald - 100.00%
  

• Leslie Harrison Dam - 99.62%
  

• Maroon Dam - 64.05%
  

• Moogerah Dam - 43.83%
  

• North Pine Dam - 44.36%
  

• Somerset Dam - 92.06%
  

• Wivenhoe Dam - 32.62%
  

See - SEQ water storage levels.

Bligh government fails to notify towns of drinking water contamination ...

Queensland's environmental watchdog failed to warn a string of regional population centres, including the city of Rockhampton, about the discharge of contaminated floodwater into their drinking supplies.

A damning report into the Environmental Protection Agency's handling of billions of litres of chemical-laden floodwater discharged from the Ensham Mine, near Emerald, says the EPA did not issue any warning that the event would cause problems with high sodium levels in drinking water.

...

The EPA issued a permit in February for the water to be discharged but failed to inform Queensland Health, local councils or residents of problems associated with the floodwater's impact on drinking supplies.

By August, Queensland Health was forced to issue a health alert about increased sodium levels in the town supplies of residents whose water supplies are drawn from the Fitzroy River.

See - Courier Mail - EPA says Queensland mine flooding contaminated drinking water.

But trust us on recycled water ...

$20 million to help secure Geelong's water supplies ...

The Rudd Government will fulfil an election commitment by providing $20 million to enable the Shell Refinery in Geelong to substitute potable water use with recycled water.

Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong, said the funding would allow the refinery to develop a new Northern Water Plant, which will save at least 2,000 megalitres of water per year.

See - $20 million to help secure Geelong's water supplies.

SEQ - Bromelton waste could hit Qld water supply ...

See - ABC News - Bromelton waste could hit Qld water supply: lobby.

Artesian Basin to be subject of study ...

See - The Age - Artesian Basin to be subject of study.

Global warming madness - class action lawsuits ...

See - Companies could be sued over climate change.

Geelong Advertiser thinks New York, Paris and London drink recycled water ...

Major cities throughout the world, including New York, London and Paris, all drink recycled water. In fact, it is a standing joke in London that 13 people have already drunk the glass of water you are drinking.

See - Geelong Advertiser - Editorial - Cabinet gets our business message.

Planned potable reuse? New York - No, London - No, Paris - No.

And of course the 7 sets of kidneys myth gets trotted out - although it's now up to 13.

If the local newspaper is so wrong with its facts, where will the people of Geelong get accurate information?

It's just like Toowoomba all over again ...

Payout scandal rocks Toowoomba Regional Council ...

Ratepayers are forking out to line greedy bosses' pockets.

A council spokesman says that ratepayers are not entitled to know how their money was spent.

Two executives have left scandal-hit Toowoomba Regional Council after pocketing secret payouts of almost $1 million.

The council's human resources manager Ken McLoughlin has left and been offered an alleged payout of $300,000 of ratepayers' money, although he is rumoured to be demanding $390,000.

His departure comes just weeks after CEO Philip Spencer retired, enjoying a golden handshake rumoured to be $600,000.

A council source said the payouts, which come a month after the council received an extra $1.8 million funding from the Federal Government, had caused outrage among staff.

"Ratepayers are forking out to line greedy bosses' pockets. It's bloody ropeable," the source said.

"It's disgraceful to think that the council has spent all this money ... on just two members of staff."

See - Courier Mail - Toowoomba council executives leave with $1 million payouts.

The two comments bound to enrage Toowoomba ratepayers:

A council spokesman said that ratepayers were not entitled to know how their money was spent.

A council spokesman said: "We do not owe it to ratepayers to comment."

Unbelievable ...

Toowoomba Regional Council 2008 by-election - John McVeigh sets pace in poll ...

Excerpt from the Chronicle:

McVeigh sets pace in poll for new councillor

7 December 2008

Toowoomba businessman John McVeigh was last night refusing to celebrate an apparent Toowoomba Regional Council by-election victory.

Mr McVeigh held a 10 per cent lead over nearest rival Ian Jones when officials stopped counting on Saturday night, with more than 38.2% (37,645) of the vote counted.

While he refused to claim victory last night, returning officer Norm Garsden admitted Mr McVeigh "should be feeling confident".

Former Clifton mayor Mr Jones sits in second position while former Toowoomba City Councillor Graham Barron is third.

Mr McVeigh said it was now a case of "whatever happens, happens".

"I guess we’re tentatively waiting for the completion of the counting of all the votes. Obviously we’re pleased with the trend at this stage," he said.

Mr McVeigh said he eagerly watched the results on Saturday night.

"We watched as the website was updated and were informed by our scrutinizers at the count last night (Saturday night)," he said.

Returning officer Norm Garsden said he had hoped his team would get through counting more than half of the ballot papers on Saturday night but wanted to make sure the count was accurate. He said some vote counters had worked from 7am processing envelopes, before counting from 6pm until midnight.

Mr Garsden said he could not declare the poll until there was a definite gap between the votes for Mr McVeigh and Mr Jones with no chance of anyone closing the gap.

But there was a trend in favour of Mr McVeigh from the beginning.

"He (McVeigh) should be feeling confident,’ Mr Garsden said.

Mr Garsden said they would continue counting today (Monday) and tomorrow.

"We’ll just take it as it goes and we’ll be able to declare it in the next couple of days," he said.

If Mr McVeigh continues to remain on top of the table he will fill the 10th position on the council replacing Cr Ian Orford who died in early October.

See - McVeigh sets pace in poll for new councillor.

SEQ recycled water - new fines for not peeing in a toilet ...

See - Brisbane Times - State's pee plan allows no excuses.

Minister Wong to tie funds to water reforms ...

See - The Australian - Wong to tie funds to water reforms.

Potability should be probable, not just possible ...

Although water recycling is an accepted part of life in Singapore, London, Namibia and parts of California, Australia still seems tentative. 

Only last week, Queensland Premier Anna Bligh reversed Government plans to use recycled waste water in the south of the state; two years ago, residents of Toowoomba voted against using recycled sewage for drinking water.

Therefore, is it surprising that the "yuck factor" still holds sway in Victoria?

See - The Age - Potability should be probable, not just possible.

London?  Singapore at 1% ...

K Rudd and Gillard - 40% and 50% of their staff quit in first 12 months ...

"The difference between Kevin Rudd's office and [ABC TV political satire] The Hollowmen is that at least the actors lasted an entire series."

See - Sydney Morning Herald - Staff flee 24/7 Rudd regime.

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SEQ recycled water - Government's water theory clear as mud ...

Receiving a straightforward answer on the cost of changes to plans for the southeast water grid appears to be a hard task.

See - Courier Mail - Government's water theory clear as mud.

Orange proceeds with purple pipe system ...

Council has embarked on a program to deliver recycled water to homes in Orange. The infrastructure for recycled water has been concentrated in the residential development areas north of Orange.

See map showing the proposed areas of Orange for recycled water.

See - Orange using purple pipe system.

See - Map of dual (purple) pipe areas in Orange.

Anna Bligh MP threatens to sue woman for not wanting to vote for him ...

A Queensland MP who threatened to sue an elderly lady who had criticised him has apologised for acting in the heat of the moment.

Phil Gray, the state Labor MP for Gaven, wrote a letter to the Gold Coast woman after she allegedly criticised him and said she wouldn't vote for him at a public meeting last month.

...

See - Courier Mail - MP apologises for threatening to sue.

SEQ recycled water - Lawyer questions recycled water liability ...

A Gold Coast lawyer says it is unclear who will take responsibility if people become sick after drinking recycled water.

The Queensland Government intends to supplement south-east Queensland dams with treated recycled water if combined levels fall below 40 per cent.

Bruce Simmonds says there has been strong promotion of the benefits of drinking recycled water but nothing about liability.

"We believe that there is a great deal of concern amongst Queenslanders of what is going to be the effect of drinking this," he said.

See - ABC News - Lawyer questions recycled water liability.

Premier Anna Bligh fails to explain why QWC head hides behind pillars ...

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has defended Queensland Water Commission chair Elizabeth Nosworthy, praising her for presiding over a sharp reduction in water use in southeast Queensland.

While the Opposition said it would axe Ms Nosworthy's job, the water commission launched a vigorous defence of its chair, insisting there was no potential conflict of interest between her public service and private business roles.

See - The Australian - Premier Anna Bligh defends water board chief.

Anna Bligh accused of doctoring report ...

Premier Anna Bligh has been accused of doctoring a report, on the same day she lauded her administration as the most "open and accountable" in the country.
...

However, in a move that embarrassed the Government, the Opposition revealed that a report into indigenous child placement, released recently on Ms Bligh's website, was missing stinging criticisms contained in the original.

See - Courier Mail - Anna Bligh accused of doctoring report.

And they wonder why no-one believes the QWC propaganda machine ...

Anna Bligh's change in water strategy to cost hundreds of millions ...

Premier Anna Bligh's sudden rethink of the southeast Queensland water strategy could end up costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of extra dollars.

The Queensland Water Commission has warned that new desalination plants, typically costing more than $1 billion each, might now need to be built earlier than planned.

See - Courier Mail - Anna Bligh change in water strategy to cost hundreds of millions.

No real problem because the QWC's friends will get to build the desal plants ...

Former Premier Beattie's rewrite of history to cost $900,000 ...

See - Courier Mail - Peter Beattie book deal failed to follow tender rules.

Anything to be seen in a favourable light ...

How recycled water should be marketed ...

Glaceau smart water - the water with all the answers.

Visit the Centre for Responsible Hydration.

Close that 70:30 gap ...

Toowoomba Regional Council 2008 by-election - votes rolling in ...

TRC by-election votes rolling in

27 November 2008

Toowoomba Regional Council residents have embraced their first postal vote with more than 10,000 completed ballots being returned on the first day.

In total, 98,537 “voters kits” were posted on Friday and residents appear eager to fill out the ballot paper and get their vote in before the December 6 deadline.

As the postal ballot is the first undertaken by the council, residents are reminded that no polling booths will be operating on election day.

...

See - By-election votes roll in.

QWC head Elizabeth Nosworthy in the news - for all the wrong reasons ...

A company chaired by Queensland Water Commission head Elizabeth Nosworthy has business ties to several firms with contracts for the $9 billion southeast Queensland water grid.

However, Ms Nosworthy said she had no involvement in the selection of the contractors.

She has denied the potential for a conflict of interest arising from the disclosure in The Australian this week that a company she chairs, the beleaguered investment managers Babcock & Brown, has had commercial relationships with the French infrastructure giant Veolia.

See - Queensland water commissioner tied to deals for $9bn grid.

Could Elizabeth Nosworthy be headed for a hat-trick?

The seemingly cursed company director has already presided over the collapse of technology provider Commander Communications. And Babcock & Brown, the broken investment house she chairs, is at the mercy of its bankers. Now, the once lauded heart device maker Ventracor, where she serves as a non-executive director, is running scarily close to running out of cash.

See - Elizabeth Nosworthy close to a third crash.

There are also questions over the future of the Babcock board, particularly chairman Elizabeth Nosworthy, who held the deputy's position as the company slid into debt.

See - Deal gives B&B $150m and two months.

PM K Rudd realises one of his MPs is a froot loop ...

See - Global financial crisis an act of God, says Labor MP Bidgood.

Anna Bligh poll dancing ...

See - Courier Mail video - Anna Bligh poll dancing.

Lose the dam, lose North Bank, lose the sewage ...

SEQ recycled water - Locals say no to recycled water ...

The Queensland Government has delayed adding recycled water from sewerage systems and medical waste to our drinking water.

The Queensland Water Commission advised the government it believed recycled water should be added to drinking supplies once dam levels dropped to 40 per cent.

When the Advertiser asked people whether they supported recycling sewerage (sic) for drinking, most said they didn’t.

See - Southeast Advertiser - Locals say no to recycled water.

SEQ recycled water - Row on water brews ...

Redland City Council has come close to starting a war of words with the State Government over the introduction of fluoridated and recycled water in South East Queensland.

Division 9 Councillor Karen Williams last week called on the council to ramp up pressure on the Bligh Government over the process used to implement its water policies, but the motion was defeated 6-5 at Wednesday’s general meeting.

See - the Redland Times - Row on water brews.

Salisbury, SA - getting stormwater harvesting right ...

Parafield Stormwater Harvesting Facility

The Parafield Stormwater Harvesting Facility originated from a discussion in 1999 between City executives and the management of G. H. Michell & Sons, Australia's largest wool processing company.

The company's processing involves the use of 1100 million litres per year of mains water to wash the wool, which in turn produces large quantities of effluent and sludge. The costs of fresh water and sewerage disposal were high enough to force the company to consider alternative, cheaper locations elsewhere, potentially resulting in the loss of around 700 local jobs.

The Parafield stormwater project involves diversion of stormwater via a weir in the main Parafield drain to a 50 million litres capacity capture basin. From there, it is pumped to a similar capacity holding basin, from where it gravitates to a two hectare cleansing reed bed.

Nutrient and pollutant loads are typically reduced by up to 90 per cent and the treated water salinity is less than 250 mg/L. The system is designed to hold stormwater for around 10 days to ensure optimal treatment efficiency.

The current supply capacity of the scheme is 1100 million litres per year. The second stage would add other catchments and boost the supply to 2100 million litres per year.

Continuity of supply is gained through the creation of large underground storage of treated stormwater. This is achieved by the development of an Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) system. Two ASR bores (depth 180 metres, T2 Aquifer) have been installed allowing supply when the system has no flow. The recharge water quality has to meet the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) requirements.

Through the project, G.H. Michell & Sons will receive water with a salinity (TDS) of 250mg/L, which is significantly lower than the salinity of water from the River Murray (> 400 mg/L). The ASR project will foster the growth of new and established industries, especially those with high water quality requirements. Prospective employment opportunities in the region will be subsequently increased.

See - Salisbury stormwater harvesting.

Former Beattie Minister committed for trial ...

Former Queensland Government minister Gordon Nuttall and Brisbane businessmen Ken Talbot have been committed to stand trial on 35 corruption charges.

See - Courier Mail - Gordon Nuttall, Ken Talbot to face trial.

SEQ - Recycled water creating a stink ...

Cannon Hill residents Bill and Mary Johnson don’t care if Premier Anna Bligh can’t make up her mind about the introduction of recycled sewage into our our drinking supplies.

The Cannon Hill couple, have made up their minds...it stinks.

The thought of drinking water containing recycled hospital waste is enough to force the couple, who have called Brisbane home since 1960, to pack their bags and move across the border.
...

Mr Johnson is shocked hospital waste will be part of the water that is recycled by the scheme and he believes many residents are not aware of this fact.

He is stocking up on bottled water so he doesn’t have to drink the recycled product when it reaches Brisbane next year.

“The sewage that comes from the hospitals, that’s really hitting a low blow,” he said.

“The problem is you can’t trust politicians or bureaucrats to do what they say they’re going to do. It will take only one load to slip by and where all gone."Mr Johnson said he had no other family in Brisbane and was willing to head to NSW so he could drink clean water.

“I’m like a lot of people who are saying we’re going to have to leave Queensland if this goes ahead.” he said.

Queensland chief health officer Jeannette Young didn’t answer questions on whether she approved the Western Corridor Recycled Water Project but Population Health Queensland senior director Linda Selvey said Dr Young was “actively involved”.

Dr Selvey said waste water from Queensland Health facilities such as hospitals was regulated and each hospital had a plan detailing what could be disposed of via the sewerage system.

See - South East Advertiser - Recycled water creating a stink.

Oakey - second highest month of rainfall ever recorded ...

See - the Chronicle - Unusual rain nearly a record.

Anna Bligh and recycled water - a question of leadership ...

Bligh's change of policy heart, at least on water recycling, was no doubt generated by the sober public opinion polling that revealed recycled water too unpalatable for voters' tastes already soured by health and urban transport. Bligh, like any leader, won't take on a fight she can't win.

See - Courier Mail - Good leadership?

SEQ - Gold Coast Mayor wants his water added to recycled water threshold ...

The Gold Coast Mayor is calling for the Queensland Water Commission to recognise the Gold Coast's input into the south-east water grid.

Ron Clarke says the Hinze Dam is now part of the grid and its contribution should further delay the 40 per cent trigger to add recycled water to the Wivenhoe system.

Councillor Clarke says the Gold Coast's total contribution could negate any need for recycled water.

"If you add ours to the 45 per cent that is in the other three dams then that would push it up to over 50 per cent, the dam's full so the reckoning point even further, but if you also add the 125 megalitres a day from the desalination plant then that would extend it so much that I don't think we would ever reach that point again," he said.

See ABC News - Clarke seeks water grid recognition.

SEQ - Recycled water boss denies conflicting roles ...

The bureaucrat charged with overseeing Queensland's recycled and desalinated water schemes and providing expert advice to the state Government also chairs a company which has had close commercial ties to the firm that will operate the projects.

Elizabeth Nosworthy denied there was a potential conflict of interest between her roles as chair of both the Queensland Water Commission and beleaguered investment management company Babcock & Brown.

The Sydney-based firm, which has an extensive water infrastructure portfolio, has been involved in several business relationships with French company Veolia.

See - The Australian - Recycled water boss denies conflicting roles.

See if you can spot all the countries with planned potable reuse ...

What?

It's not done everywhere?

But that's not what Anna Bligh and the QWC tell us ...

SEQ - Anna Bligh delays Gold Coast desalination plant operation ...

There will be less water to splash around after the State Government broke its promise to have the Gold Coast desalination plant operational on Sunday.

Instead, Premier Anna Bligh gave contradictory statements about why the plant would not be operational for at least another six weeks instead of yesterday's scheduled start.

Ms Bligh officially opened the $1.2 billion facility at Tugun yesterday, but the purified saltwater she and the public sampled at the gala day was only for show.

The setback was another blow for the Government, which has come under fire for its handling of water issues following its backflip last week on Traveston Dam and the introduction of recycled water.
...

Questioned by The Courier-Mail, Ms Bligh fudged her answers about the reason for the delay - even though she is the former infrastructure minister and the desalination plant is a major component of the Government's $9 billion southeast water grid.

...

See - Courier Mail - Anna Bligh delays Gold Coast desalination plant operation.

Anna Bligh's popularity slumps ...

A Galaxy poll, conducted exclusively for The Courier-Mail, has revealed the Premier's populist politics on recycled water and the Traveston Dam and her high-profile efforts during Brisbane's recent storms have failed to plug Labor's leaking support base.

An early election to limit Labor's losses, likely in either late February or early March, is now a near-certainty given that Ms Bligh appears unable to address the downward spiral.

Nervous Labor MPs may revolt if Labor's support continues to plummet and Ms Bligh tries to turn her rhetoric into reality by holding the election when it is due late next year.

...

See - Courier Mail - Latest Galaxy poll another blow to Anna Bligh leadership.

K Rudd's Cabinet infighting - Australia squibs on climate promise ...

See - the Australian - Australia squibs on climate promise.

Tide turns for ocean energy ...

An Australian company, using technology that a young Queensland engineer designed, is expected this week to announce a string of international contracts.

Atlantis Resources Corporation has developed turbines that can generate electricity from the sea's movement. It has begun trials at San Remo in Victoria.

The company is confident it will win a contract to build 500 underwater turbines in the sea off Scotland.

The tidal farm will have capacity to power a million homes.

See - Brisbane Times - Tide turns for ocean energy.