BUDGET INJECTS $80M MORE INTO WATERWISE SCHEMES
Published Thursday, 31 May, 2007 at 01:22 PM
JOINT STATEMENT
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Infrastructure
The Honourable Anna Bligh
Water-saving Queenslanders will continue to be supported by the Queensland Government’s WaterWise Schemes, Premier Peter Beattie and Deputy Premier Anna Bligh announced today.
Mr Beattie said $80 million had been committed in the upcoming 2007-08 Budget – taking the total for 2007-08 to $100.8 million demonstrating the Government’s continued resolve to secure a future water supply for the State.
“In the South-East corner, we continue to battle the worst drought Queensland has ever seen, and it has changed how we view this precious resource as a State,” Mr Beattie said.
“The Government is working hard to secure the future water supply for SEQ through the $9 billion Water Grid, but to get through this drought and to ensure we don’t find ourselves in the same dire situation again, we have to continue to reduce demand.
"Queenslanders are making an unprecedented effort to save water and the Waterwise schemes are the Government’s way of supporting and encouraging their efforts.
“This additional $80 million takes the Government’s investment in the three-year WaterWise program to $200 million,” he said.
Mr Beattie said $91 million of the total funds would be allocated to the Home WaterWise program, which is the largest consumer rebate scheme in Queensland’s history.
“The Home WaterWise rebate schemes provides cash rebates on a range of water efficient products such as rainwater tanks, dual flush toilets, washing machines, showerheads and pool covers,” he said.
“Since the program began in July 2006, it is estimated to have saved up to 2400 mega litres a year based on the 107,600 products that have been installed in homes across Queensland.
“This Budget boost will provide rebates for tens of thousands more water tanks, water-efficient washing machines, dual-flush toilet suites and shower heads,” he said.
Ms Bligh said the Budget allocation would provide further funding for all of the Government’s WaterWise schemes.
“As well as the $91 million for Home WaterWise, this Budget commitment will also inject $4.5 million into the Garden WaterWise Rebate Scheme and $5 million into the Lifestyle
WaterWise program, which offers Queensland’s not-for-profit organisations grants of up to $30,000 to implement water-saving devices.
“The grants can be used to improve watering systems for parks, gardens or sporting fields, replace existing water-use devices such as single-flush toilets, installing alternative water sources such as water tanks, and installing pool covers and rollers.
“All of this goes a long way to ensure more and more Queenslanders continue to save water,” she said.
Natural Resources and Water Minister, Craig Wallace said today’s Budget announcement recognised the ongoing popularity of the important programs.
“To-date, we have processed Home WaterWise rebates to the value of $63.95 million,” Mr Wallace said.
“That includes:
• $53.241 million in rebates for 54,326 rainwater tanks;
• $8.058 million for 40,294 washing machines;
• $1.276 million for 8,545 dual flush toilet suites; and
• $979,678 for 4,935 roller/pool cover combinations.”
“The Home WaterWise Rebate Scheme is now receiving in between 6,000 - 7,000 applications a week, up from the 5,000 - 6,000 per week before Level 5 restrictions were put in place.
“The HWRS is paying an average of $2.5 - $3.5 million in rebates each week.
Mr Wallace said people applying for rebates under the scheme now had a shorter time to wait.
“Processing times for applications received over the past three months, have fallen from more than 60 calendar days to 48 calendar days and we will continue to work hard to ensure Queenslanders get their rebates paid in a reasonable amount of time.”
More information on the WaterWise schemes is available at www.nrw.qld.gov.au/water
ENDS
Thursday, 31 May 2007
Media contact: 3224 4500 (Premier’s office) 3224 4379 (Deputy Premier’s office)
Mr Beattie said $80 million had been committed in the upcoming 2007-08 Budget – taking the total for 2007-08 to $100.8 million demonstrating the Government’s continued resolve to secure a future water supply for the State.
“In the South-East corner, we continue to battle the worst drought Queensland has ever seen, and it has changed how we view this precious resource as a State,” Mr Beattie said.
“The Government is working hard to secure the future water supply for SEQ through the $9 billion Water Grid, but to get through this drought and to ensure we don’t find ourselves in the same dire situation again, we have to continue to reduce demand.
"Queenslanders are making an unprecedented effort to save water and the Waterwise schemes are the Government’s way of supporting and encouraging their efforts.
“This additional $80 million takes the Government’s investment in the three-year WaterWise program to $200 million,” he said.
Mr Beattie said $91 million of the total funds would be allocated to the Home WaterWise program, which is the largest consumer rebate scheme in Queensland’s history.
“The Home WaterWise rebate schemes provides cash rebates on a range of water efficient products such as rainwater tanks, dual flush toilets, washing machines, showerheads and pool covers,” he said.
“Since the program began in July 2006, it is estimated to have saved up to 2400 mega litres a year based on the 107,600 products that have been installed in homes across Queensland.
“This Budget boost will provide rebates for tens of thousands more water tanks, water-efficient washing machines, dual-flush toilet suites and shower heads,” he said.
Ms Bligh said the Budget allocation would provide further funding for all of the Government’s WaterWise schemes.
“As well as the $91 million for Home WaterWise, this Budget commitment will also inject $4.5 million into the Garden WaterWise Rebate Scheme and $5 million into the Lifestyle
WaterWise program, which offers Queensland’s not-for-profit organisations grants of up to $30,000 to implement water-saving devices.
“The grants can be used to improve watering systems for parks, gardens or sporting fields, replace existing water-use devices such as single-flush toilets, installing alternative water sources such as water tanks, and installing pool covers and rollers.
“All of this goes a long way to ensure more and more Queenslanders continue to save water,” she said.
Natural Resources and Water Minister, Craig Wallace said today’s Budget announcement recognised the ongoing popularity of the important programs.
“To-date, we have processed Home WaterWise rebates to the value of $63.95 million,” Mr Wallace said.
“That includes:
• $53.241 million in rebates for 54,326 rainwater tanks;
• $8.058 million for 40,294 washing machines;
• $1.276 million for 8,545 dual flush toilet suites; and
• $979,678 for 4,935 roller/pool cover combinations.”
“The Home WaterWise Rebate Scheme is now receiving in between 6,000 - 7,000 applications a week, up from the 5,000 - 6,000 per week before Level 5 restrictions were put in place.
“The HWRS is paying an average of $2.5 - $3.5 million in rebates each week.
Mr Wallace said people applying for rebates under the scheme now had a shorter time to wait.
“Processing times for applications received over the past three months, have fallen from more than 60 calendar days to 48 calendar days and we will continue to work hard to ensure Queenslanders get their rebates paid in a reasonable amount of time.”
More information on the WaterWise schemes is available at www.nrw.qld.gov.au/water
ENDS
Thursday, 31 May 2007
Media contact: 3224 4500 (Premier’s office) 3224 4379 (Deputy Premier’s office)