Published Thursday, 12 July, 2007 at 01:54 PM
Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Infrastructure
The Honourable Anna Bligh
TOUGH NEW FINES FOR SERIAL WATER CHEATS
July 10, 2007
On-the-spot fines for individuals and businesses who repeatedly ignore water restrictions will be beefed up in a State Government crackdown on water cheats.
Deputy Premier Anna Bligh said tough new fines deliberately target water wasters who thumb their noses at Level 5 restrictions.
“The community response to the worst drought in south-east Queensland overall has been tremendous,” Ms Bligh said. “However, there will always be the greedy ones who take more than their fair share.
“There’s no excuse. The vast majority of people are appalled by that sort of conduct while everyone else is making sacrifices.
“This is aimed at the repeat offenders. To be fair, we have left the fine for first-timers and are going after the ones who won’t be told.”
Higher fines for Level 5 breaches
• Individuals
Current Fine New Fine
First penalty $150 $150
Second penalty* $225 $450
Third and subsequent penalty^ $300 $1050
• Businesses
Current Fine New Fine
First penalty $750 $750
Second penalty* $1125 $1500
Third and subsequent penalty^ $1500 $3750
*within 2 years of first offence
^ within either 2 years after first offence or 6 months after most recent offence
In addition, Ms Bligh said that as part of the crackdown, heavy water users who don’t respond to the QWC’s One to One program by completing an assessment will be banned from outdoor watering.
“By not responding to the One to One program, they are in breach of Level 5 restrictions,” Ms Bligh said.
“Defying that outdoor water ban would constitute a second breach and they will face a new fine of $450. Serial cheats will be fined $1050 for every subsequent offence.”
• Heavy water users penalties
Offence Penalty
First penalty Total outdoor watering ban
(for not returning or completing water use assessment form)
Second penalty $450
(breaching outdoor watering ban)
Third and subsequent penalty^ $1050
^ within either 2 years after first offence or 6 months after most recent offence
“We have tried to be as fair as possible through this process but sometimes you need the big stick,” Ms Bligh said.
“This is aimed at the selfish minority. It’s unbelievable that some people could continually waste water during this drought but the unfortunate reality is that they’re out there.”
Ten per cent of homes account for 25% of domestic water use in SEQ, the reason the QWC sent assessment forms to 80,000 households using more than 800 litres a day. The average use of these 80,000 was 1100 litres, almost enough for a family of eight under Level 5 restrictions.
As of Friday 67,119 assessment forms have been returned, 84% of the total, and 13,430 Personalised Feedback packs have been sent out.
Ms Bligh said every household that returned a form would receive a confirmation letter or personalised advice on how to save water in the next nine days. People who sent in incomplete forms would get a second chance.
“In many cases, there were perfectly valid reasons for heavy use, such as having a large family or special needs,” she said.
“That’s why the new fines are aimed at the serial offenders. There’s no plausible excuse for not knowing we all have to save water.”
Ms Bligh said the QWC was evaluating new penalties for people who continue to use excessive amounts of water without justification. The move follows revelations this week that one Brisbane household was using a staggering 32,000 litres a day.
More information: Deputy Premier’s Office 3224 6900
On-the-spot fines for individuals and businesses who repeatedly ignore water restrictions will be beefed up in a State Government crackdown on water cheats.
Deputy Premier Anna Bligh said tough new fines deliberately target water wasters who thumb their noses at Level 5 restrictions.
“The community response to the worst drought in south-east Queensland overall has been tremendous,” Ms Bligh said. “However, there will always be the greedy ones who take more than their fair share.
“There’s no excuse. The vast majority of people are appalled by that sort of conduct while everyone else is making sacrifices.
“This is aimed at the repeat offenders. To be fair, we have left the fine for first-timers and are going after the ones who won’t be told.”
Higher fines for Level 5 breaches
• Individuals
Current Fine New Fine
First penalty $150 $150
Second penalty* $225 $450
Third and subsequent penalty^ $300 $1050
• Businesses
Current Fine New Fine
First penalty $750 $750
Second penalty* $1125 $1500
Third and subsequent penalty^ $1500 $3750
*within 2 years of first offence
^ within either 2 years after first offence or 6 months after most recent offence
In addition, Ms Bligh said that as part of the crackdown, heavy water users who don’t respond to the QWC’s One to One program by completing an assessment will be banned from outdoor watering.
“By not responding to the One to One program, they are in breach of Level 5 restrictions,” Ms Bligh said.
“Defying that outdoor water ban would constitute a second breach and they will face a new fine of $450. Serial cheats will be fined $1050 for every subsequent offence.”
• Heavy water users penalties
Offence Penalty
First penalty Total outdoor watering ban
(for not returning or completing water use assessment form)
Second penalty $450
(breaching outdoor watering ban)
Third and subsequent penalty^ $1050
^ within either 2 years after first offence or 6 months after most recent offence
“We have tried to be as fair as possible through this process but sometimes you need the big stick,” Ms Bligh said.
“This is aimed at the selfish minority. It’s unbelievable that some people could continually waste water during this drought but the unfortunate reality is that they’re out there.”
Ten per cent of homes account for 25% of domestic water use in SEQ, the reason the QWC sent assessment forms to 80,000 households using more than 800 litres a day. The average use of these 80,000 was 1100 litres, almost enough for a family of eight under Level 5 restrictions.
As of Friday 67,119 assessment forms have been returned, 84% of the total, and 13,430 Personalised Feedback packs have been sent out.
Ms Bligh said every household that returned a form would receive a confirmation letter or personalised advice on how to save water in the next nine days. People who sent in incomplete forms would get a second chance.
“In many cases, there were perfectly valid reasons for heavy use, such as having a large family or special needs,” she said.
“That’s why the new fines are aimed at the serial offenders. There’s no plausible excuse for not knowing we all have to save water.”
Ms Bligh said the QWC was evaluating new penalties for people who continue to use excessive amounts of water without justification. The move follows revelations this week that one Brisbane household was using a staggering 32,000 litres a day.
More information: Deputy Premier’s Office 3224 6900