MAJOR FIRMS OFFER WATER EMERGENCY PLANS
Published Monday, 20 August, 2007 at 08:59 AM
Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Infrastructure
The Honourable Anna Bligh
August 20, 2007
Investigations into a range of emergency back-up supplies that could deliver massive amounts of drinking water to south-east Queensland are being fast-tracked by the State Government, Deputy Premier Anna Bligh said today.
Respected firms such as GE Water, Thiess, Worley Parsons and Sumitomo are among major companies to offer 28 emergency supply solutions that individually could provided on average up to 125ML of drinking water a day.
"To put that in perspective, south-east Queensland has been using about 550 million litres a day under Level 5 restrictions," Ms Bligh said.
"We'll do whatever it takes - this Government will not let the south-east run out of water.
"In the event that SEQ worst-ever drought is not broken by the next wet season rains, the Government will act. That is why we are making the running now.
"We can anchor large-scale barges along the Brisbane River to pump desalinated water directly into the system. Or we can have water delivered by super-tankers.
"The projects will be shortlisted by the end of the month so we can have back-up supplies ready in the when they are needed."
As well as emergency plans, Ms Bligh said the Government is also fast-tracking investigations into expanding the Tugun Desalination Plant by up to an additional 47ML/day.
The Government is also now investigating proposals to supplement flows into the Western Corridor Recycled Water Project, up to an additional 40ML/day, involving the transfer of water from catchments not currently part of the scheme.
"Combined with the Government's world-class $9billion Water Grid projects, these initiatives will provide the water south-east Queensland needs."
The companies include: Sumitomo, Industrial Water Initiatives (Hunwick), AJ Lucas, Marecon, United Utilities, Thiess, Thiess Services, Degremont, SPA, Aqualia, Clough, Worley Parsons, Transfield Services, Arcadia, GE Water, Solar Sailor and Aquatankers and Solartran
Media contact: Deputy Premier’s Office 3224 6900
Investigations into a range of emergency back-up supplies that could deliver massive amounts of drinking water to south-east Queensland are being fast-tracked by the State Government, Deputy Premier Anna Bligh said today.
Respected firms such as GE Water, Thiess, Worley Parsons and Sumitomo are among major companies to offer 28 emergency supply solutions that individually could provided on average up to 125ML of drinking water a day.
"To put that in perspective, south-east Queensland has been using about 550 million litres a day under Level 5 restrictions," Ms Bligh said.
"We'll do whatever it takes - this Government will not let the south-east run out of water.
"In the event that SEQ worst-ever drought is not broken by the next wet season rains, the Government will act. That is why we are making the running now.
"We can anchor large-scale barges along the Brisbane River to pump desalinated water directly into the system. Or we can have water delivered by super-tankers.
"The projects will be shortlisted by the end of the month so we can have back-up supplies ready in the when they are needed."
As well as emergency plans, Ms Bligh said the Government is also fast-tracking investigations into expanding the Tugun Desalination Plant by up to an additional 47ML/day.
The Government is also now investigating proposals to supplement flows into the Western Corridor Recycled Water Project, up to an additional 40ML/day, involving the transfer of water from catchments not currently part of the scheme.
"Combined with the Government's world-class $9billion Water Grid projects, these initiatives will provide the water south-east Queensland needs."
The companies include: Sumitomo, Industrial Water Initiatives (Hunwick), AJ Lucas, Marecon, United Utilities, Thiess, Thiess Services, Degremont, SPA, Aqualia, Clough, Worley Parsons, Transfield Services, Arcadia, GE Water, Solar Sailor and Aquatankers and Solartran
Media contact: Deputy Premier’s Office 3224 6900