CABINET TOUGHENS WATER MEASURES
Published Monday, 20 August, 2007 at 02:32 PM
Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Infrastructure
The Honourable Anna Bligh
August 20, 2007
Individual water meters will be mandatory for all new units from next year as part of a wide-ranging package of water-saving measures, Deputy Premier Anna Bligh announced today.
Ms Bligh said Cabinet today approved a range of measures to ensure SEQ dam levels remained above 5% by late next year, when bulk supplies from the Western Corridor Recycled Water Project and the Gold Coast Desalination Plant enter the Water Grid. They include:
MORE POWER FOR ENFORCEMENT
• Giving council officers stronger powers to enter properties to investigate breaches of water restrictions. They will not be allowed inside homes.
• Giving the State Government the power to enforce permanent water conservation measures, even in non-drought areas.
• Broad restrictions on domestic bores, allowing them to be brought into line with other water restrictions in place.
• Suppliers across Queensland given the power to reduce water pressure for people who breach restrictions. “Water cheats will have their supply pressure lowered,” Ms Bligh said.
BETTER WATER RECYCLING
• Expanding the use of “grey water” (left over from washing machines, baths etc) around the house and by business; allowing trials of recycled sewage by major water users.
• Mandatory retro-fitting of water-saving devices for houses under major renovation (ones that require council building and plumbing approvals).
• Requiring internally-plumbed tanks to be installed in new commercial and industrial buildings in SEQ from January 1, other areas of the state by July 1 next year. They must be plumbed into toilets, washing machines’ cold water taps and external taps.
BETTER INFORMATION TO HOUSEHOLDERS
• Standardised billing will be phased in across Queensland by 2012, starting with SEQ by July 1, 2009.
• All renters in metered properties – houses and units – to get details of their water use. Suppliers such as councils must provide billing details to tenants, who at present are in the dark about how much they use. “This will give them a regular guide on if they are being water-wise,” Ms Bligh said.
Ms Bligh said the new laws would make it easier for tenants across Queensland to save water.
“Metering of unit blocks will allow tenants to be directly billed for water – the same as they are with electricity.
“These changes also mean that all tenants will pay for water in units where there is a meter, not just the new ones.”
More information: Deputy Premier’s Office 3224 6900
Individual water meters will be mandatory for all new units from next year as part of a wide-ranging package of water-saving measures, Deputy Premier Anna Bligh announced today.
Ms Bligh said Cabinet today approved a range of measures to ensure SEQ dam levels remained above 5% by late next year, when bulk supplies from the Western Corridor Recycled Water Project and the Gold Coast Desalination Plant enter the Water Grid. They include:
MORE POWER FOR ENFORCEMENT
• Giving council officers stronger powers to enter properties to investigate breaches of water restrictions. They will not be allowed inside homes.
• Giving the State Government the power to enforce permanent water conservation measures, even in non-drought areas.
• Broad restrictions on domestic bores, allowing them to be brought into line with other water restrictions in place.
• Suppliers across Queensland given the power to reduce water pressure for people who breach restrictions. “Water cheats will have their supply pressure lowered,” Ms Bligh said.
BETTER WATER RECYCLING
• Expanding the use of “grey water” (left over from washing machines, baths etc) around the house and by business; allowing trials of recycled sewage by major water users.
• Mandatory retro-fitting of water-saving devices for houses under major renovation (ones that require council building and plumbing approvals).
• Requiring internally-plumbed tanks to be installed in new commercial and industrial buildings in SEQ from January 1, other areas of the state by July 1 next year. They must be plumbed into toilets, washing machines’ cold water taps and external taps.
BETTER INFORMATION TO HOUSEHOLDERS
• Standardised billing will be phased in across Queensland by 2012, starting with SEQ by July 1, 2009.
• All renters in metered properties – houses and units – to get details of their water use. Suppliers such as councils must provide billing details to tenants, who at present are in the dark about how much they use. “This will give them a regular guide on if they are being water-wise,” Ms Bligh said.
Ms Bligh said the new laws would make it easier for tenants across Queensland to save water.
“Metering of unit blocks will allow tenants to be directly billed for water – the same as they are with electricity.
“These changes also mean that all tenants will pay for water in units where there is a meter, not just the new ones.”
More information: Deputy Premier’s Office 3224 6900