Published Saturday, 10 March, 2007 at 12:00 AM
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT MUST PAY: BEATTIE
Councils and the Federal Government must bring money to the table to ease future water prices for South-East Queenslanders, Premier Peter Beattie and Deputy Premier Anna Bligh said today.
During a visit to Bundamba to inspect progress on the $1.7 billion Western Corridor Recycled Water Project, Mr Beattie said all levels of Government had a financial responsibility to address the current water shortage.
“The current drought is the worst Queensland has seen and the State Government is investing significant funds to secure the water security of South-East Queensland,” Mr Beattie said.
“The Western Corridor Project, which forms an important part of the Government’s $8 billion Water Grid, is the largest recycled water scheme to be constructed in Australia and will be the largest project of its kind in the southern hemisphere.
“Essential infrastructure of this magnitude comes at a cost and to ensure South-East Queenslanders don’t cop the brunt of it in water prices, the Howard Government and councils have to pitch in,” he said.
Deputy Premier Anna Bligh said the Governments requests were not unreasonable.
“Our Treasury is examining how we can reduce the impact on consumers,” Ms Bligh said.
“It will determine how much the State Government can contribute to soften the blow, and what is a fair contribution to expect from water users.
“If the Howard Government came to the party with the $408 million grant for the Western Corridor Project we seek and local councils reinvested their water profits in water infrastructure, we could drastically cut the impact of water prices on South-East Queensland residents.
“This Government will not stand for water prices being out of the reach of ordinary Queenslanders, and it is the responsibility of all levels of Government to ensure this does not happen.
“The State Government is playing its part. It is time the Federal Government and local councils played theirs.”
Saturday, 10 March 2007
During a visit to Bundamba to inspect progress on the $1.7 billion Western Corridor Recycled Water Project, Mr Beattie said all levels of Government had a financial responsibility to address the current water shortage.
“The current drought is the worst Queensland has seen and the State Government is investing significant funds to secure the water security of South-East Queensland,” Mr Beattie said.
“The Western Corridor Project, which forms an important part of the Government’s $8 billion Water Grid, is the largest recycled water scheme to be constructed in Australia and will be the largest project of its kind in the southern hemisphere.
“Essential infrastructure of this magnitude comes at a cost and to ensure South-East Queenslanders don’t cop the brunt of it in water prices, the Howard Government and councils have to pitch in,” he said.
Deputy Premier Anna Bligh said the Governments requests were not unreasonable.
“Our Treasury is examining how we can reduce the impact on consumers,” Ms Bligh said.
“It will determine how much the State Government can contribute to soften the blow, and what is a fair contribution to expect from water users.
“If the Howard Government came to the party with the $408 million grant for the Western Corridor Project we seek and local councils reinvested their water profits in water infrastructure, we could drastically cut the impact of water prices on South-East Queensland residents.
“This Government will not stand for water prices being out of the reach of ordinary Queenslanders, and it is the responsibility of all levels of Government to ensure this does not happen.
“The State Government is playing its part. It is time the Federal Government and local councils played theirs.”
Saturday, 10 March 2007