HOME WATERWISE REACHES $100M MARK: PREMIER

The Queensland Government’s Home WaterWise Rebate Scheme has reached its $100 million milestone, Premier Peter Beattie announced in Parliament today.

Mr Beattie said the Government introduced the Scheme on 1 July last year to support Queenslanders doing their bit to fight the drought by purchasing water-saving products.

“Since then, the public response has been enormous with $102,839,836 in rebates paid to Queenslanders so far,” Mr Beattie said.

“The Home WaterWise Scheme is the most popular consumer rebate scheme in Queensland’s history, with around 7000 applications continuing to be received every week and 171,113applications paid as of close of business yesterday.

“This includes:

• 89,066 rainwater tanks worth $87,289,710;
• 57,409 washing machines worth $11,481,572;
• 12,438 dual flush toilet suites worth $1,858,871;
• 13,985 shower heads valued at $338,774;
• 7,377 pool covers/rollers worth $1,461,819;
• 1,001 greywater systems worth $57,133; and
• 7269 for garden products rebates worth $351,957.

“One in every eight households in the Brisbane City Council area now has a water tank, up from one in 20 only three years ago,” Mr Beattie said.

“The Government is working hard to secure south-east Queensland’s water supply through the $9 billion Water Grid.

“But we cannot achieve water security without the commitment of South-East Queenslanders who continue to reduce their demand through water-saving measures supported by the Home WaterWise Scheme,” he said.

Mr Beattie said the Government would continue to fund the scheme into the future, with a total of $100.8 million committed to the Home WaterWise Rebate Scheme in 2007/08.

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