Published Friday, 31 August, 2007 at 09:07 AM
Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Infrastructure
The Honourable Anna Bligh
AUGUST RAINS COUNTER JULY INFLOW FIGURES
31 August 2007
The Queensland Water Commission’s latest monthly report highlights that dam inflows for July were 2468 ML, down from 4648ML in June, and offering up less than 5 days’ supply.
However SEQWater reports that following last week’s unseasonal August rain combined dam levels are now at more than 20%, said Deputy Premier Anna Bligh.
“The last time combined levels were at 20% was mid-April this year.”
According to SEQ Water the late-August rainfall has delivered an additional 4.5 months supply.
“Such is the community’s interest in the recent rainfall and dam levels SEQ Water registered 163,847 hits last week on its website – nine times a normal week of between 18,000 to 20,000,” she said.
Ms Bligh said that QWC’s July report, even before this month’s inflows, showed that the projected dam capacity would remain above 5% in December 2008. This is when the SEQ drought-response projects are on-line.
Ms Bligh said that timeframes and cost estimates for all State Government projects in the July report remain as reported in June.
As previously reported concerns remain that councils appear unable to deliver the pressure and leakage project (60ML/day by December 2008) on time, with projection of only 72% of this target being achieved by that date.
However the Deputy Premier on Monday 13 August used emergency powers given to her under drought-response legislation to order two south-east Queensland councils to fast-track repairs to pipes leaking millions of litres of water a day.
She used 2006 Amendments to the Water Act to force Brisbane and Maroochydore to join the co-ordinated push to save 60 million litres a day that leaks from council water systems.
She directed Brisbane and Maroochy councils to join with other SEQ councils in working with the Local Government Infrastructure Services (LGIS) leakage reduction program.
Ms Bligh said that all projects, apart from the Western Corridor Recycled Water Project, are the same or similar to previous reports.
The July Report confirms what has been flagged for the WRCWP inflows that they will be down to 13ML Day. This is a result of Level 5 restrictions reducing throughput.
Ms Bligh said that proponents had responded to contingency measure advertisements placed in late June 2007. Requests for tenders are now proceeding.
Responses have included tankers transporting water from as far as Tasmania, huge water containers floating down from north Queensland and a range of mobile desalination plants.
Ms Bligh said an interactive website that will track the progress of projects on the South East Queensland Water Grid will be available from noon today.
“Given the interest shown in last week’s inflows and falls the website will also help those keen to know more about our water projects. It will be updated every Wednesday.”
The website counts down the days until projects provide water to the region, shows how much work had been completed on each projects, photos, updates, and how many workers are on the projects.
“With more than 3,300 workers at 45 sites across the region working on the South East Queensland Water Grid, there is significant progress on Western Corridor Recycled Water Project, Gold Coast Desalination Project and Southern Regional Water Pipeline every week.”
“Residents will be able to visit the website and track how the water projects are progressing,” she said.
“There will be photos, interactive maps, project descriptions, interesting facts and details of progress.
“Western Corridor Recycled Water Project achieved a significant milestone this week when the first flow of purified recycled water from Bundamba Advanced Water Treatment Plant was released into the lake at Swanbank Power Station.
“There will be many more milestones over the next 16 months and it will be great for the people of South East Queensland to be able to track the projects with us.”
Ms Bligh said the website also had a meet the workers section that would be regularly updated, providing details on the diverse range of people that make up the South East Queensland Water Grid workforce.
“Website visitors will be able to get an insight into what sort of tasks need to be undertaken in constructing a project of this size,” she said.
The website can be accessed through two portals www.water.qld.gov.au or www.infrastructure.qld.gov.au, and follow the links to the South East Queensland Water Grid.
Media contact: Deputy Premier’s Office 3224 6900
The Queensland Water Commission’s latest monthly report highlights that dam inflows for July were 2468 ML, down from 4648ML in June, and offering up less than 5 days’ supply.
However SEQWater reports that following last week’s unseasonal August rain combined dam levels are now at more than 20%, said Deputy Premier Anna Bligh.
“The last time combined levels were at 20% was mid-April this year.”
According to SEQ Water the late-August rainfall has delivered an additional 4.5 months supply.
“Such is the community’s interest in the recent rainfall and dam levels SEQ Water registered 163,847 hits last week on its website – nine times a normal week of between 18,000 to 20,000,” she said.
Ms Bligh said that QWC’s July report, even before this month’s inflows, showed that the projected dam capacity would remain above 5% in December 2008. This is when the SEQ drought-response projects are on-line.
Ms Bligh said that timeframes and cost estimates for all State Government projects in the July report remain as reported in June.
As previously reported concerns remain that councils appear unable to deliver the pressure and leakage project (60ML/day by December 2008) on time, with projection of only 72% of this target being achieved by that date.
However the Deputy Premier on Monday 13 August used emergency powers given to her under drought-response legislation to order two south-east Queensland councils to fast-track repairs to pipes leaking millions of litres of water a day.
She used 2006 Amendments to the Water Act to force Brisbane and Maroochydore to join the co-ordinated push to save 60 million litres a day that leaks from council water systems.
She directed Brisbane and Maroochy councils to join with other SEQ councils in working with the Local Government Infrastructure Services (LGIS) leakage reduction program.
Ms Bligh said that all projects, apart from the Western Corridor Recycled Water Project, are the same or similar to previous reports.
The July Report confirms what has been flagged for the WRCWP inflows that they will be down to 13ML Day. This is a result of Level 5 restrictions reducing throughput.
Ms Bligh said that proponents had responded to contingency measure advertisements placed in late June 2007. Requests for tenders are now proceeding.
Responses have included tankers transporting water from as far as Tasmania, huge water containers floating down from north Queensland and a range of mobile desalination plants.
Ms Bligh said an interactive website that will track the progress of projects on the South East Queensland Water Grid will be available from noon today.
“Given the interest shown in last week’s inflows and falls the website will also help those keen to know more about our water projects. It will be updated every Wednesday.”
The website counts down the days until projects provide water to the region, shows how much work had been completed on each projects, photos, updates, and how many workers are on the projects.
“With more than 3,300 workers at 45 sites across the region working on the South East Queensland Water Grid, there is significant progress on Western Corridor Recycled Water Project, Gold Coast Desalination Project and Southern Regional Water Pipeline every week.”
“Residents will be able to visit the website and track how the water projects are progressing,” she said.
“There will be photos, interactive maps, project descriptions, interesting facts and details of progress.
“Western Corridor Recycled Water Project achieved a significant milestone this week when the first flow of purified recycled water from Bundamba Advanced Water Treatment Plant was released into the lake at Swanbank Power Station.
“There will be many more milestones over the next 16 months and it will be great for the people of South East Queensland to be able to track the projects with us.”
Ms Bligh said the website also had a meet the workers section that would be regularly updated, providing details on the diverse range of people that make up the South East Queensland Water Grid workforce.
“Website visitors will be able to get an insight into what sort of tasks need to be undertaken in constructing a project of this size,” she said.
The website can be accessed through two portals www.water.qld.gov.au or www.infrastructure.qld.gov.au, and follow the links to the South East Queensland Water Grid.
Media contact: Deputy Premier’s Office 3224 6900