Published Sunday, 24 June, 2007 at 12:00 AM
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
BEATTIE INJECTS $15M TO TAKE BUSINESS WATER PROGRAM STATE-WIDE
The Queensland Government will spend an additional $15 million in an expanded program to help businesses across Queensland save water, Premier Peter Beattie announced today.
Mr Beattie said the $40 million Business Water Efficiency Program (BWEP) had been boosted to $55 million to include support for companies outside South-East Queensland, delivering on a 2006 election promise.
“Owing to the success of the program to-date, and the Government’s commitment to assist all Queensland businesses implement sustainable water practices, BWEP has now been extended state-wide,” Mr Beattie said.
“Saving water is smart business and the additional $15 million we will invest in BWEP will help companies outside South-East Queensland take significant steps towards greater efficiencies.
“SEQ businesses are already responding to the challenge of saving water, with 8.4 million litres a day saved since July last year - more than double the target set by BWEP.
“In addition to those savings, BWEP has received 89 applications, which stand to add an extra 11.5 million litres a day in savings if all are approved,” he said.
The Premier made the announcement at the launch of Brisbane Sofitel Hotel’s water-saving drive, in which all 444 rooms will be fitted with reduced-flow showerheads and 466 dual-flush toilets installed. The State Government contributed $83,000 to the $350,000 retrofit.
“This is the largest retrofit so far in Brisbane CBD and is part of a package of measures that will slash the Sofitel’s water use by 25 percent - freeing up 24 million litres of drinking water each year.”
Four minute shower timers will be placed in every guest room with an explanatory note highlighting that Brisbane is in its worst drought on record.
BWEP-approved water savings by private sector buildings in Brisbane’s CBD have reached over 70ML a year, the equivalent of about 1400 people hitting the target 140 litres a day every day for a year.
“The public are making sacrifices and it is important for them to know that business is doing its bit as well,” Mr Beattie said.
“I urge medium to large scale businesses outside of the South-East to apply for a BWEP rebate or subsidy to help them improve water management and reduce consumption.
“Queensland’s drought has changed the way we think of water, and every drop that we can save is liquid gold,” he said.
BWEP allows businesses using more than 1 million litres of town water per year to access rebates and subsidies of up to 50 per cent for improved water management practices and to reduce consumption.
For more information on BWEP, visit www.seqwater.com.au/bwep.
Mr Beattie said the $40 million Business Water Efficiency Program (BWEP) had been boosted to $55 million to include support for companies outside South-East Queensland, delivering on a 2006 election promise.
“Owing to the success of the program to-date, and the Government’s commitment to assist all Queensland businesses implement sustainable water practices, BWEP has now been extended state-wide,” Mr Beattie said.
“Saving water is smart business and the additional $15 million we will invest in BWEP will help companies outside South-East Queensland take significant steps towards greater efficiencies.
“SEQ businesses are already responding to the challenge of saving water, with 8.4 million litres a day saved since July last year - more than double the target set by BWEP.
“In addition to those savings, BWEP has received 89 applications, which stand to add an extra 11.5 million litres a day in savings if all are approved,” he said.
The Premier made the announcement at the launch of Brisbane Sofitel Hotel’s water-saving drive, in which all 444 rooms will be fitted with reduced-flow showerheads and 466 dual-flush toilets installed. The State Government contributed $83,000 to the $350,000 retrofit.
“This is the largest retrofit so far in Brisbane CBD and is part of a package of measures that will slash the Sofitel’s water use by 25 percent - freeing up 24 million litres of drinking water each year.”
Four minute shower timers will be placed in every guest room with an explanatory note highlighting that Brisbane is in its worst drought on record.
BWEP-approved water savings by private sector buildings in Brisbane’s CBD have reached over 70ML a year, the equivalent of about 1400 people hitting the target 140 litres a day every day for a year.
“The public are making sacrifices and it is important for them to know that business is doing its bit as well,” Mr Beattie said.
“I urge medium to large scale businesses outside of the South-East to apply for a BWEP rebate or subsidy to help them improve water management and reduce consumption.
“Queensland’s drought has changed the way we think of water, and every drop that we can save is liquid gold,” he said.
BWEP allows businesses using more than 1 million litres of town water per year to access rebates and subsidies of up to 50 per cent for improved water management practices and to reduce consumption.
For more information on BWEP, visit www.seqwater.com.au/bwep.