Published Wednesday, 28 February, 2007 at 10:58 AM
Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Infrastructure
The Honourable Anna Bligh
Home retrofits and drought projects tracking well in January water reports: Bligh
28 February 2007
101 plumbers are playing their part in more than 11,000 South East Queensland houses being retrofitted with water-saving devices during January alone, Deputy Premier Anna Bligh said today.
In releasing the January Queensland Water Commission progress reports Ms Bligh said that there had been significant progress in the Pressure and Leakage Management Program and the Home Waterwise Service during the month of January.
# During January, the benefits of fast-tracking approvals from the State Government’s subsidy payments on the Pressure and Leakage Management Program saw an increase from under $1 million (end of December) to more than $7.5 million by the end of the month.
Ms Bligh said that the strategy was crucial to improve performance in the program.
“Approximately 11 megalitres per day is already being saved and during January a further 11 Demand Management Zones were installed in local council areas – taking the total to 53 zones.”
The Zones allow councils to isolate an identified area (like a suburb or an area within a suburb) so that it can be subject to more focused pressure controls - thereby limiting leakage and providing greater water pressure when it is needed.
# Progress in January on the Home Waterwise Service retrofit program was intense.
“Almost 11,000 houses were retrofitted with water saving devices during January in South East Queensland – that’s 3,000 more than December’s completion rate, a 34% improvement.”
“It means that about 55,000 water-saving devices were fitted in the month.”
This meant a monthly gain of 231ML and now means almost 1000 ML saving a year (964ML) since the retrofitting program began.
“There are now 101 plumbers on this program and as of yesterday more than 54,800 homes had been retrofitted. We are on track to achieve the 75,000 house target by the end of April.”
“The community has done a superb job and responded to this service, which provides $150 worth of home plumbing services for just $20.
“As a result, it is estimated, we are already saving more than 2.6 million litres every day because of those households who have had the service undertaken.”
Ms Bligh said the Queensland Water Commission had reported that the region’s storage levels were still expected to reach 20% in April, being the broad trigger for the introduction of Level 5 restrictions.
The Commission’s report indicates that inflows to our dams during January were very disappointing. For the month they were 83% less than those recorded for the same month in our worst year [2004-05].
“While we are still in the middle of the wet season, we are in a tough situation.”
She said that the major drought response projects remain on track.
# The $1.2 billion South East Queensland (Gold Coast) Desalination Project is progressing well and on target to commence production on 25 November 2008, and ramp up to deliver full production of 125ML/day to the system by 15 January 2009.
# Work on the $1.7 billion Western Corridor Recycled Water Project was progressing well and remained on track to be completed by the end of December 2008.
There is no reported changes in delays with 1A – the water supply to Swanbank Power Station – and it remains forecast for completion by 31 August 2007 and 1B – water supply to Tarong Power Station – and it remains forecast for completion by June 30 2008 with the completed project on target for December 31 2008.
Work on this project goes around the clock six days a week from today (28/2) as the Government intensifies efforts to complete the vital water project on time.
“As I said last week we are pulling out all stops to make sure this critical project is completed as quickly as humanly possible.”
In order to meet timeframes, for the next six to eight months operations on Stage 1 are being extended from 12 to 24 hours a day between Mondays and Saturdays.
“The round the clock works will assist in providing up to 20ML of recycled water per day to Swanbank Power Station by the end of August this year,” she said.
The Government is working with the Ipswich City Council to minimise the project’s impact on local residents.
“Residents have been advised that, where possible, works having the smallest impact on residents will be performed at night, such as the fixing of steel and pouring of concrete.”
The monthly water reports are available on the Queensland Water Commission website http://www.qwc.qld.gov.au
Deputy Premier’s office: 3224 6900
101 plumbers are playing their part in more than 11,000 South East Queensland houses being retrofitted with water-saving devices during January alone, Deputy Premier Anna Bligh said today.
In releasing the January Queensland Water Commission progress reports Ms Bligh said that there had been significant progress in the Pressure and Leakage Management Program and the Home Waterwise Service during the month of January.
# During January, the benefits of fast-tracking approvals from the State Government’s subsidy payments on the Pressure and Leakage Management Program saw an increase from under $1 million (end of December) to more than $7.5 million by the end of the month.
Ms Bligh said that the strategy was crucial to improve performance in the program.
“Approximately 11 megalitres per day is already being saved and during January a further 11 Demand Management Zones were installed in local council areas – taking the total to 53 zones.”
The Zones allow councils to isolate an identified area (like a suburb or an area within a suburb) so that it can be subject to more focused pressure controls - thereby limiting leakage and providing greater water pressure when it is needed.
# Progress in January on the Home Waterwise Service retrofit program was intense.
“Almost 11,000 houses were retrofitted with water saving devices during January in South East Queensland – that’s 3,000 more than December’s completion rate, a 34% improvement.”
“It means that about 55,000 water-saving devices were fitted in the month.”
This meant a monthly gain of 231ML and now means almost 1000 ML saving a year (964ML) since the retrofitting program began.
“There are now 101 plumbers on this program and as of yesterday more than 54,800 homes had been retrofitted. We are on track to achieve the 75,000 house target by the end of April.”
“The community has done a superb job and responded to this service, which provides $150 worth of home plumbing services for just $20.
“As a result, it is estimated, we are already saving more than 2.6 million litres every day because of those households who have had the service undertaken.”
Ms Bligh said the Queensland Water Commission had reported that the region’s storage levels were still expected to reach 20% in April, being the broad trigger for the introduction of Level 5 restrictions.
The Commission’s report indicates that inflows to our dams during January were very disappointing. For the month they were 83% less than those recorded for the same month in our worst year [2004-05].
“While we are still in the middle of the wet season, we are in a tough situation.”
She said that the major drought response projects remain on track.
# The $1.2 billion South East Queensland (Gold Coast) Desalination Project is progressing well and on target to commence production on 25 November 2008, and ramp up to deliver full production of 125ML/day to the system by 15 January 2009.
# Work on the $1.7 billion Western Corridor Recycled Water Project was progressing well and remained on track to be completed by the end of December 2008.
There is no reported changes in delays with 1A – the water supply to Swanbank Power Station – and it remains forecast for completion by 31 August 2007 and 1B – water supply to Tarong Power Station – and it remains forecast for completion by June 30 2008 with the completed project on target for December 31 2008.
Work on this project goes around the clock six days a week from today (28/2) as the Government intensifies efforts to complete the vital water project on time.
“As I said last week we are pulling out all stops to make sure this critical project is completed as quickly as humanly possible.”
In order to meet timeframes, for the next six to eight months operations on Stage 1 are being extended from 12 to 24 hours a day between Mondays and Saturdays.
“The round the clock works will assist in providing up to 20ML of recycled water per day to Swanbank Power Station by the end of August this year,” she said.
The Government is working with the Ipswich City Council to minimise the project’s impact on local residents.
“Residents have been advised that, where possible, works having the smallest impact on residents will be performed at night, such as the fixing of steel and pouring of concrete.”
The monthly water reports are available on the Queensland Water Commission website http://www.qwc.qld.gov.au
Deputy Premier’s office: 3224 6900