SEQ water grid - Qld Water Commission does more harm than good ...

ABC News:

Water Commission fuelled Qld's 'terrible financial state'

5 June 2009

The Queensland Opposition says expensive water projects in the south-east have failed to deliver and left the State Government struggling financially.

State Parliament has passed new laws changing the structure of the Queensland Water Commission (QWC).

There will be one commissioner instead of three and some responsibilities will be transferred to government departments.

The State Government says the changes will save $7 million over four years, on top of $15 million cut from the QWC public relations budget.

In debate in Parliament last night on the QWC changes, Opposition spokesman Jeff Seeney told the House that the Tugun desalination plant on the Gold Coast has been plagued by problems.

The Government says recycled water will not be used to top-up drinking supplies unless dam levels drop below 40 per cent, but the treated effluent is being pumped to power stations.

However, Mr Seeney said less than 20 per cent of the daily target for recycled water was being produced.

He says the projects cost $4.5 billion.

"The Water Commission is one of the fundamental reasons why the Queensland Government is in such a terrible financial state," he said.

But Natural Resources Minister Stephen Robertson paid tribute to the QWCs achievements.

"I pay credit to [Commissioner] Elizabeth Nosworthy and the other two Water Commissioners for the work that they've done over the last couple of years," he said.

"They have transformed how this state and in particular south-east Queensland understands and uses water.

"The people of south east Queensland will thank them.

"The Water Commission has brought a discipline to resource planning and infrastructure delivery that has hitherto been unknown in Queensland."

See - ABC News - Water Commission fuelled Qld's 'terrible financial state'.