BLIGH ORDERS SEQ COUNCILS TO FIX THE LEAKS
Published Monday, 13 August, 2007 at 03:42 PM
Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Infrastructure
The Honourable Anna Bligh
August 13, 2007
Deputy Premier Anna Bligh has used emergency powers given to her under drought-response legislation to order south-east Queensland councils to fast-track repairs to pipes leaking millions of litres of water a day.
Ms Bligh today used 2006 amendments to the Water Act to force Brisbane and Maroochydore to join a co-ordinated push to save 60 million litres a day that leaks from council water systems.
“We’re sick of watching drinking water for hundreds of thousands of people washing down the drain while councils are dragging their feet,” she said
“Enough’s enough. We’ve given them plenty of chances but on behalf of the 2.2 million people in south-east Queensland I can’t tolerate inaction any longer.
“Householders have been inspirational in coping with the drought and today I have ordered the councils to smarten up their response.”
Ms Bligh said the drought regulations require SEQ councils to save 60ML in leaks by August 31 next year. Councils are forecasting that they would reduce leaks by only 43ML in that time and currently are only saving 15ML a day.
“Under their current efforts they will not hit the 60ML target until 2012. That’s not good enough. This is the worst drought in our history and we need a greater sense of urgency,” she said.
“Despite there having been 10 monthly water reports showing they won’t hit their targets, and in the absence of them having an alterative plan, they have left me no other option.”
Ms Bligh ordered the councils to join a regional program managed by Local Government Infrastructure Services, a joint Queensland Treasury Corporation venture with the Local Government Association of Queensland that gives high-level advice on asset management.
She said getting all of the councils to work together under the LGIS project created the “critical mass” needed to assemble a contractor to fix ageing pipes across SEQ quickly and at the best rate possible.
Her order to the councils comes in the wake of their refusal to sign up to the LGIS program and fears they would not meet regulated water-saving targets.
Despite a standing State Government offer to pay 40% of any costs involved, only Redlands and Logan have signed a Heads of Agreement with LGIS.
“The other councils have tried to go it alone and it is just not working,” Ms Bligh said.
“By utilising LGIS and adopting a regional approach they could save not just water, but money. They have done this very effectively with wastewater and we want the same on leakage.”
Media contact: Deputy Premier’s Office 3224 6900
Deputy Premier Anna Bligh has used emergency powers given to her under drought-response legislation to order south-east Queensland councils to fast-track repairs to pipes leaking millions of litres of water a day.
Ms Bligh today used 2006 amendments to the Water Act to force Brisbane and Maroochydore to join a co-ordinated push to save 60 million litres a day that leaks from council water systems.
“We’re sick of watching drinking water for hundreds of thousands of people washing down the drain while councils are dragging their feet,” she said
“Enough’s enough. We’ve given them plenty of chances but on behalf of the 2.2 million people in south-east Queensland I can’t tolerate inaction any longer.
“Householders have been inspirational in coping with the drought and today I have ordered the councils to smarten up their response.”
Ms Bligh said the drought regulations require SEQ councils to save 60ML in leaks by August 31 next year. Councils are forecasting that they would reduce leaks by only 43ML in that time and currently are only saving 15ML a day.
“Under their current efforts they will not hit the 60ML target until 2012. That’s not good enough. This is the worst drought in our history and we need a greater sense of urgency,” she said.
“Despite there having been 10 monthly water reports showing they won’t hit their targets, and in the absence of them having an alterative plan, they have left me no other option.”
Ms Bligh ordered the councils to join a regional program managed by Local Government Infrastructure Services, a joint Queensland Treasury Corporation venture with the Local Government Association of Queensland that gives high-level advice on asset management.
She said getting all of the councils to work together under the LGIS project created the “critical mass” needed to assemble a contractor to fix ageing pipes across SEQ quickly and at the best rate possible.
Her order to the councils comes in the wake of their refusal to sign up to the LGIS program and fears they would not meet regulated water-saving targets.
Despite a standing State Government offer to pay 40% of any costs involved, only Redlands and Logan have signed a Heads of Agreement with LGIS.
“The other councils have tried to go it alone and it is just not working,” Ms Bligh said.
“By utilising LGIS and adopting a regional approach they could save not just water, but money. They have done this very effectively with wastewater and we want the same on leakage.”
Media contact: Deputy Premier’s Office 3224 6900