Published Tuesday, 20 February, 2007 at 06:53 PM

Minister for Police and Corrective Services
The Honourable Judy Spence

QUEENSLAND PRISONS IMPLEMENT FURTHER WATER SAVING MEASURES

Queensland’s jails are on track to achieve further reductions in water consumption.

Corrective Services Minister Judy Spence told State Parliament today water efficiency management plans will be produced for all correctional centres to identify further water savings opportunities, building on a long list of water efficiency efforts already implemented.

“Last year prisons introduced a range of water savings measures, such as restricting prisoner showers each day,” Ms Spence said.

“Prisons have also begun using site-collected water on prison grounds.

“Prior to level four water restrictions coming into effect, Queensland Corrective Services had already introduced water-saving initiatives such as stopping non-essential hosing and installing flow restrictors on taps and toilets.

“Since level four restrictions came in, all correctional centres have been putting together water efficiency management plans.”

Ms Spence said new capital works projects – including the new prison planned for the Gatton Shire, and expansion projects at the Sir David Longland, Arthur Gorrie and Townsville correctional centres – are all subject to a requirement to apply the principles of environmentally sustainable design.

This includes:

  • Flow restrictors in all tapware;
  • Water efficient shower heads;
  • The use of dual flush toilets in some instances and the use of vacuum toilets in newer centres;
  • Controlled access to fire hoses;
  • The inclusion of native vegetation into landscaping;
  • Consideration of rain water harvesting and water reuse.

“Queensland Corrective Services will also look at developing and incorporating a range of measures into new greenfield site jails,” Ms Spence said.

These will include:

  • Vacuum drainage;
  • Roof water to be used for toilet flushing;
  • Separate shower lines to enable time-limited shower periods;
  • Roof water for irrigation;
  • Central laundering;
  • Controlled access to fire hoses.

Ms Spence said application of the water efficiency management process to Queensland’s thirteen jails would establish these centres as best practice models with resultant savings up to 35 megalitres a year, or 15.3 Olympic size swimming pools of water.

Media contact – Alison Smith 3239 6218