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Questions On Notice Questions on notice are usually asked when a more detailed answer is required and are in writing, and are forwarded by the Clerk of the Parliament to the relevant Minister who prepares a written answer which is presented to Parliament.
Water needs for South - East Queensland |
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| Posted by Administrator (admin) on Jul 24 2006 |
| Questions On Notice >> |
Mr LAWLOR: Minister, in the context of the department's work to secure long-term water needs for the state's south east as referred to at page 1 of the Ministerial Portfolio Statement, can you explain the department's role in securing the future water needs for the city of Toowoomba?
Mr PALASZCZUK: I thank the honourable member for the question. Toowoomba City Council has developed and is implementing its drought contingency plan to deal with the city's ongoing water supply in the short term in the event that its main surface water supplies continue to diminish. The department is working with and providing support to the council in the development and implementation of the contingency measures, particularly in relation to assisting with identifying and approving access to groundwater. The Toowoomba City Council has engaged a drilling contractor to drill 20 to 30 bores to obtain additional access to the basalt aquifer resource that underlies the city. Council will also be constructing a deep bore to access the Great Artesian Basin later in the year. With these additional supplies being progressively brought online combined with a reduction in demand as the level 5 restriction regime kicks in around midyear, the life of Toowoomba's three storages can be expected to extend out to mid-2009. This still leaves three summer wet seasons ahead to afford opportunity for storage-replenishing rains to occur. An increase in the combined dam storage capacity of only 10 per cent, or 13,000 megalitres, is needed to provide a year of further supply to the Toowoomba system. The state government is pleased that the federal government has now announced its position on the Toowoomba Water Futures. The Queensland government has indicated that it is prepared to financially support the Water Futures proposal as part of the overall proposal that involves funding from both the Commonwealth and the Toowoomba City Council. There can be little doubt that Toowoomba needs a viable solution to its water problems, both in the context of improving the performance of the existing water supply system as well as enabling continued urban growth to occur with confidence.
The Queensland government support extends to providing an effective policy and regulatory environment to enable the proposed treatment and re-use facilities to be approved. Toowoomba has clearly identified the need to secure new sources of water as current demand exceeds the assessed available supply. It is acknowledged that the issue of indirect potable re-use is one that continues to cause a measure of ongoing community debate and of course media attention. The recent announcement by the federal government suggests that all three levels of government-local, state and federal-should accept the need for communities to consider this supply option should the situation require. The community's verdict on 29 July 2006 will help to provide clarity on how to secure a better water future for Toowoomba and the actions to achieve this. There certainly has been a broad detail of alternative water supply options that have been promoted by various interests opposed to the Water Futures strategy.
CHAIR: The minister's time has expired. I call the member for Kallangur.
Last changed: [PUBLISHED_DATE] at 2:29 PM
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