Published Tuesday, 06 February, 2007 at 01:39 PM
Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Infrastructure
The Honourable Anna Bligh
Bligh unveils 2-yr $2.5 million water information program
6 February 2007
Deputy Premier and Infrastructure Minister Anna Bligh today unveiled the first stage of a two-year $2.5 million statewide water information campaign.
“Tonight we launch the first in a series of television commercials aimed at informing the public about our water initiatives, including the need for non-climate dependent sources of water such as purified recycled water and desalination,” Ms Bligh said.
“The advertisements will also inform the public about water-saving measures being undertaken to guarantee our short and long-term water security,” she said.
“We need residents to be confident that the measures we are taking are safe and that we are doing all we can to ensure they have the water they need.”
The first stage of television, radio and newspaper advertisements will run from now until early March.
Ms Bligh said south-east Queensland residents and businesses were doing their bit to curb water use.
“They have cut consumption by more than 30 percent under Level 4 restrictions compared with their pre-drought consumption,” she said.
“In January we averaged 721 ML/day versus the pre-drought average of 1136 ML for that month.
“However there is more that we can still do.
“For example - if we can get south-east Queenslanders to spend one minute less in the shower each day we can save 30 ML a day – 10 950 ML a year.
“If we can get people to do one less load of washing a week we'd save 83 ML a week - 4316 ML a year.
“Showers and laundry are where the greatest residential savings are to be made.”
Ms Bligh said in light of recent reports and statements fuelling fears that south-east Queensland may run out of water, it was important the public understood what action the Government was taking to tackle the current water crisis.
“I would like to assure the people of south-east Queensland that despite the very real water shortages gripping parts of the nation, water will continue to flow through their taps,” she said.
“Based on our current worst case scenario, which is the region receiving the same level of inflows each year into the combined Wivenhoe system as those received in 2004-05 – the Queensland water Commission advises that dam levels will be at about 6.66% at the start of December 2008.
“SEQ Water advises that water from Wivenhoe system can be accessed down to 1 percent of capacity.
“Even without adding purified recycled water our dam levels increase to 7.15% in January 2009 as the Gold Coast desalination plant increases its output to supply Brisbane.
“If our water outlook deteriorates further, there are other actions we can take to further reduce the pressure on our dam supplies.
“These include introducing a new level of restrictions and further scaling back power station water usage that does not risk the region’s electricity supply.
“The Commission will continue to closely monitor our dam inflows – particularly given that inflows for the 2006-07 year to date are currently tracking 20 percent lower than the worst recorded year.
“We need to see what rainfall we receive in February and March – which are historically higher rainfall months in SEQ – before any definitive conclusion can be drawn about the 2006-07 water year.
“The Commission will also continue to track and report on our emergency water measures and make any changes to their scenario planning to ensure our region has the water it needs.”
Hotline 1300 789 906
Link: www.water.qld.gov.au
Media contact: Deputy Premier’s Office 3224 4379
Deputy Premier and Infrastructure Minister Anna Bligh today unveiled the first stage of a two-year $2.5 million statewide water information campaign.
“Tonight we launch the first in a series of television commercials aimed at informing the public about our water initiatives, including the need for non-climate dependent sources of water such as purified recycled water and desalination,” Ms Bligh said.
“The advertisements will also inform the public about water-saving measures being undertaken to guarantee our short and long-term water security,” she said.
“We need residents to be confident that the measures we are taking are safe and that we are doing all we can to ensure they have the water they need.”
The first stage of television, radio and newspaper advertisements will run from now until early March.
Ms Bligh said south-east Queensland residents and businesses were doing their bit to curb water use.
“They have cut consumption by more than 30 percent under Level 4 restrictions compared with their pre-drought consumption,” she said.
“In January we averaged 721 ML/day versus the pre-drought average of 1136 ML for that month.
“However there is more that we can still do.
“For example - if we can get south-east Queenslanders to spend one minute less in the shower each day we can save 30 ML a day – 10 950 ML a year.
“If we can get people to do one less load of washing a week we'd save 83 ML a week - 4316 ML a year.
“Showers and laundry are where the greatest residential savings are to be made.”
Ms Bligh said in light of recent reports and statements fuelling fears that south-east Queensland may run out of water, it was important the public understood what action the Government was taking to tackle the current water crisis.
“I would like to assure the people of south-east Queensland that despite the very real water shortages gripping parts of the nation, water will continue to flow through their taps,” she said.
“Based on our current worst case scenario, which is the region receiving the same level of inflows each year into the combined Wivenhoe system as those received in 2004-05 – the Queensland water Commission advises that dam levels will be at about 6.66% at the start of December 2008.
“SEQ Water advises that water from Wivenhoe system can be accessed down to 1 percent of capacity.
“Even without adding purified recycled water our dam levels increase to 7.15% in January 2009 as the Gold Coast desalination plant increases its output to supply Brisbane.
“If our water outlook deteriorates further, there are other actions we can take to further reduce the pressure on our dam supplies.
“These include introducing a new level of restrictions and further scaling back power station water usage that does not risk the region’s electricity supply.
“The Commission will continue to closely monitor our dam inflows – particularly given that inflows for the 2006-07 year to date are currently tracking 20 percent lower than the worst recorded year.
“We need to see what rainfall we receive in February and March – which are historically higher rainfall months in SEQ – before any definitive conclusion can be drawn about the 2006-07 water year.
“The Commission will also continue to track and report on our emergency water measures and make any changes to their scenario planning to ensure our region has the water it needs.”
Hotline 1300 789 906
Link: www.water.qld.gov.au
Media contact: Deputy Premier’s Office 3224 4379