Published Sunday, 01 April, 2007 at 12:00 AM
JOINT STATEMENT
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Infrastructure
The Honourable Anna Bligh
SAVVY BIG BUSINESSES MAKE EVERY DROP COUNT
South East Queensland companies are proving that saving water is good business, Premier Peter Beattie and Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure Anna Bligh said today during a visit to the water-saving Coca-Cola Amatil plant at Richlands.
Their comments followed yesterday’s release of the Queensland Water Commission’s monthly progress report for February.
“According to the QWC report, companies have already doubled the target of the Business Water Efficiency Program, with savings of 8.4 million litres a day, easily surpassing the target of 4.1ML by the end of April,” Mr Beattie said.
“Less water means more profits – and smart businesses are realising that.
“Coca-Cola Amatil’s Richlands plant reports that it has slashed water use by 14 percent in the past five years through a range of innovations including waterless lubrication on conveyer belts and its own nano-filtration recycling plant.
“For the period 2004-2007, CCA Richlands will achieve water savings of almost 100 million litres for an outlay of about $125,000.
“It is also on target to reach a level of 1.4 litres of water for every litre of beverage produced, which is global best practice for the beverage industry. Coke’s global average is 2.6 litres.”
Ms Bligh commended other big water savers.
“Amcor Cartonboard, Incitec Pivot, Brisbane Airport Corporation, South Bank Corporation, Visy Paper and Mrs Crocket’s Kitchen are other big businesses cutting their water use through efficiency,” Ms Bligh said.
“Between them, these companies are saving more than 2.5ML of drinking water a day – enough to fill 50 backyard pools.
“What is most encouraging is these companies have realised the bottom-line value of using less water and savings have been largely voluntary,” she said.
Ms Bligh said the State Government’s Business Water Efficiency Program was an incentive scheme to assist businesses to save water by adopting sustainable practices.
“As part of our $8 billion drought response package, the Government is investing $40 million to help businesses use water more efficiently in the work place.
“Under proposed Level 5 restrictions, all businesses using more than 10ML a year will be required to have an approved Water Efficiency Management Plan, which generally seek reductions of 25 per cent.”
Ms Bligh said the QWC’s February report also showed all major projects in the State Government’s water grid remained on target to meet their deadlines.
“The Western Corridor Recycled Water Project, the Gold Coast desalination plant, and the Northern, Eastern and Southern pipelines continue to be on track to meet their 2008 deadlines,” she said.
ENDS
Sunday, 1 April 2007
Media contact: Belinda Carroll (Premier) 0448 757 086
Scott Dixon (Deputy Premier) 0448 614 420
Their comments followed yesterday’s release of the Queensland Water Commission’s monthly progress report for February.
“According to the QWC report, companies have already doubled the target of the Business Water Efficiency Program, with savings of 8.4 million litres a day, easily surpassing the target of 4.1ML by the end of April,” Mr Beattie said.
“Less water means more profits – and smart businesses are realising that.
“Coca-Cola Amatil’s Richlands plant reports that it has slashed water use by 14 percent in the past five years through a range of innovations including waterless lubrication on conveyer belts and its own nano-filtration recycling plant.
“For the period 2004-2007, CCA Richlands will achieve water savings of almost 100 million litres for an outlay of about $125,000.
“It is also on target to reach a level of 1.4 litres of water for every litre of beverage produced, which is global best practice for the beverage industry. Coke’s global average is 2.6 litres.”
Ms Bligh commended other big water savers.
“Amcor Cartonboard, Incitec Pivot, Brisbane Airport Corporation, South Bank Corporation, Visy Paper and Mrs Crocket’s Kitchen are other big businesses cutting their water use through efficiency,” Ms Bligh said.
“Between them, these companies are saving more than 2.5ML of drinking water a day – enough to fill 50 backyard pools.
“What is most encouraging is these companies have realised the bottom-line value of using less water and savings have been largely voluntary,” she said.
Ms Bligh said the State Government’s Business Water Efficiency Program was an incentive scheme to assist businesses to save water by adopting sustainable practices.
“As part of our $8 billion drought response package, the Government is investing $40 million to help businesses use water more efficiently in the work place.
“Under proposed Level 5 restrictions, all businesses using more than 10ML a year will be required to have an approved Water Efficiency Management Plan, which generally seek reductions of 25 per cent.”
Ms Bligh said the QWC’s February report also showed all major projects in the State Government’s water grid remained on target to meet their deadlines.
“The Western Corridor Recycled Water Project, the Gold Coast desalination plant, and the Northern, Eastern and Southern pipelines continue to be on track to meet their 2008 deadlines,” she said.
ENDS
Sunday, 1 April 2007
Media contact: Belinda Carroll (Premier) 0448 757 086
Scott Dixon (Deputy Premier) 0448 614 420