Responsibility for SEQ bulk water moves to merged authority

South East Queensland’s new single bulk water authority, Seqwater, has commenced operations and will deliver water services across the region from today.

Acting Minister for Water Supply Andrew Cripps said legislative changes had been finalised and bulk water supply operations had now been transferred to Seqwater.

“The merging of three former water entities, Seqwater, LinkWater and the SEQ Water Grid Manager, as well as some functions of the Queensland Water Commission (QWC) have been consolidated into a single bulk water entity which will allow for better planning and decision making,” Mr Cripps said.

“Creating a single entity to manage SEQ’s bulk water supply services meets an important election commitment under the Newman Government’s Four Point Plan to ease cost of living pressures on Queensland households.

“The previous complex and costly bulk water supply arrangements have been simplified to avoid duplication, cut operating and administration costs and reduce board and executive expenses.

“SEQ’s bulk water supply services have been brought together into one entity with a view to reducing the upward pressure on water prices for the benefit of Queensland families that have struggled with rising charges for several years.”

Mr Cripps said the first day of the year also marked an end to water restrictions across the south east.

“Under the QWC’s ‘Permanent Water Conservation Measures’, which began in late 2009, households and businesses across the south east were restricted in their water usage,” he said.

“Time of water use, place of use, purpose of use, method of use, and volume of use, were all regulated.

“Any organisation using more than 10 million litres a year was also required to prepare and report annually on a water efficiency plan.

“Last month we used on average 180 litres per person per day, which was well below the target of 200 litres per person per day.

“As our dams are currently more than 90 per cent full, there is no need for water restrictions.”

[ENDS] 1 January, 2013

Media Contact: Paul Sutherland 0428 868 237