Published Thursday, 19 July, 2007 at 03:00 PM
Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Infrastructure
The Honourable Anna Bligh
WATER CLAIMS NONSENSE, SAYS BLIGH
July 19, 2007
Deputy Premier Anna Bligh has dismissed claims that south east Queensland will run out of water by mid-2008 as misinformed nonsense.
“Expert independent modelling shows the Wivenhoe Dam system will still be above 5% capacity by the time desalinated and purified recycled water is added, “ Ms Bligh said.
She was commenting on a series of claims by Brisbane academic David Lockington and Opposition Leader Jeff Seeney that south-east Queensland’s water supply would run out within 12 months.
Peer-reviewed independent modelling based on a worse-case scenario showed levels in the Wivenhoe system would be above 5% when water from the Gold Coast desalination plant and the Western Corridor Recycled Water pipeline arrived at the end of next year.
“Let’s get this straight. Never in our history has it not rained for an entire year – those claims are nonsense,” Ms Bligh said.
“Even if we have rainfall as bad as our worst-ever year, SEQ would not run out of water. This is based on receiving less than 4% of our average rainfall.
“This is not the Government’s position - these are independent models compiled by experts and reviewed by experts.”
Media reports asserting that Dr Lockington has been contracted to determine where the recycled water pipeline should enter Wivenhoe Dam were without foundation.
Ms Bligh said claims the recycled water pipeline’s entry point to the Wivenhoe Dam had not been determined were “just plain wrong”.
“The release will be at Logan’s Inlet, near Coominya, and construction on this pipeline is due to commence in the next 3-4 months. Design is almost complete, “she said.
“I’m advised that the site was selected after rigorous examination and is supported by SEQ Water, which operates Wivenhoe.”
Ms Bligh said expert analysis by SEQ Water showed “high quality” drinking water could be taken from the Wivenhoe system even if it fell to 1%.
“This makes a mockery of Mr Seeney’s claims supplies below the 5% level were ‘useless’,” Ms Bligh said.
“That’s irresponsible scaremongering at its worst and Mr Seeney should be ashamed of himself.”
His claims that the Gold Coast would be only source of alternative supply to present arrangements showed a basic lack of understanding of the water grid and other water-saving measures.
“I’m pleased that Dr Lockington has clarified his comments but I am not surprised to see Mr Seeney play mischievous and dishonest politics with water,” Ms Bligh said.
As well as the region-wide Western Corridor scheme and the desalination plant:
• The Northern Pipeline Interconnector will deliver up to 65ML/day of new water from the Sunshine Coast to the SEQ region by December 2008.
• The Eastern Pipeline Interconnector from Stradbroke Island will deliver 22ML/day of new water to the region by December 2008
• The Bribie Island and Brisbane City Groundwater/aquifer projects will together deliver up to 25ML/day of new water to the region by December this year 2007
• Water saving projects such as the use of recycled water by industry, the Business Water Efficiency Program, the Pressure and Leakage Program and the HomeWaterwise Program will save more than 60ML/day.
More information: Deputy Premier’s Office, 3224 5982
Deputy Premier Anna Bligh has dismissed claims that south east Queensland will run out of water by mid-2008 as misinformed nonsense.
“Expert independent modelling shows the Wivenhoe Dam system will still be above 5% capacity by the time desalinated and purified recycled water is added, “ Ms Bligh said.
She was commenting on a series of claims by Brisbane academic David Lockington and Opposition Leader Jeff Seeney that south-east Queensland’s water supply would run out within 12 months.
Peer-reviewed independent modelling based on a worse-case scenario showed levels in the Wivenhoe system would be above 5% when water from the Gold Coast desalination plant and the Western Corridor Recycled Water pipeline arrived at the end of next year.
“Let’s get this straight. Never in our history has it not rained for an entire year – those claims are nonsense,” Ms Bligh said.
“Even if we have rainfall as bad as our worst-ever year, SEQ would not run out of water. This is based on receiving less than 4% of our average rainfall.
“This is not the Government’s position - these are independent models compiled by experts and reviewed by experts.”
Media reports asserting that Dr Lockington has been contracted to determine where the recycled water pipeline should enter Wivenhoe Dam were without foundation.
Ms Bligh said claims the recycled water pipeline’s entry point to the Wivenhoe Dam had not been determined were “just plain wrong”.
“The release will be at Logan’s Inlet, near Coominya, and construction on this pipeline is due to commence in the next 3-4 months. Design is almost complete, “she said.
“I’m advised that the site was selected after rigorous examination and is supported by SEQ Water, which operates Wivenhoe.”
Ms Bligh said expert analysis by SEQ Water showed “high quality” drinking water could be taken from the Wivenhoe system even if it fell to 1%.
“This makes a mockery of Mr Seeney’s claims supplies below the 5% level were ‘useless’,” Ms Bligh said.
“That’s irresponsible scaremongering at its worst and Mr Seeney should be ashamed of himself.”
His claims that the Gold Coast would be only source of alternative supply to present arrangements showed a basic lack of understanding of the water grid and other water-saving measures.
“I’m pleased that Dr Lockington has clarified his comments but I am not surprised to see Mr Seeney play mischievous and dishonest politics with water,” Ms Bligh said.
As well as the region-wide Western Corridor scheme and the desalination plant:
• The Northern Pipeline Interconnector will deliver up to 65ML/day of new water from the Sunshine Coast to the SEQ region by December 2008.
• The Eastern Pipeline Interconnector from Stradbroke Island will deliver 22ML/day of new water to the region by December 2008
• The Bribie Island and Brisbane City Groundwater/aquifer projects will together deliver up to 25ML/day of new water to the region by December this year 2007
• Water saving projects such as the use of recycled water by industry, the Business Water Efficiency Program, the Pressure and Leakage Program and the HomeWaterwise Program will save more than 60ML/day.
More information: Deputy Premier’s Office, 3224 5982