FINE-TUNING FOR STATE GOVERNMENT WATERWISE SERVICES

Minister for Natural Resources and Water Craig Wallace today announced fine-tuning of the Queensland Government’s highly successful water-saving schemes, the Home WaterWise Service and Home WaterWise Rebate Scheme.

Mr Wallace said $4 million extra would be given to the Home WaterWise Service, which provides water-saving plumbing retrofits for just $20.

The $4 million more will mean an extra 18,000 homes in the south-east corner can be fitted with water saving devices.

Mr Wallace also announced that from February 1 2008, the rebate for water tanks under the Home WaterWise Rebate Scheme will:

·Increase to $1,500

·Become available only for tanks of at least 3,000 litres which are plumbed to at least one internal connection (eg. laundry or toilet).

Unplumbed rainwater tanks which are ordered by 31 January and installed by 31 March 2008 will still be eligible for the current $1,000 rebate.

“Queenslanders have flocked to take part in the Home WaterWise Service and Rebate Scheme,” Mr Wallace said.

“They have shown they are passionate about saving water in the worst drought on record,” he said.

“More than 167,000 homeowners have had plumbing retrofits under the Service and nearly 310,000 applications have been approved under the Rebate Scheme.

“No other Australian state has operated such comprehensive subsidy and rebate schemes.”

All other rebates under the Home WaterWise Rebate Scheme – for products such as water efficient washing machines and showerheads, dual-flush toilet suites, greywater systems and pool covers/rollers – will continue unchanged.

The Home WaterWise Service provides approximately 2400 retrofits every week and is projected to complete 225,000 retrofits by June next year.

The Home WaterWise Rebate Scheme has provided over $196 million in rebates, including rebates for nearly 172,000 water tanks, over 98,000 water-efficient washing machines, nearly 23,000 dual-flush toilet suites, over 2400 greywater systems, nearly 24,000 showerheads and over 17,000 pool covers and rollers.

Mr Wallace said the Home WaterWise Rebate Scheme had been the most popular consumer rebate scheme in Queensland history and had provided as many people as possible with water tanks.

One in every eight households in the Brisbane City Council area now has a rainwater tank, up from one in every 20 households three years ago.

The current $1,000 rebate under the Rebate Scheme applies to all water tanks, regardless if they are plumbed in or not.

“By applying the rebate to larger tanks that can be plumbed to laundries and toilets, we are fine-tuning the scheme,” Mr Wallace said.

Mr Wallace said the State Government had been monitoring local government policy on the issue of water tank rebates.

“In particular I would draw attention to Greg Rowell and the Labor team at Brisbane City Council’s plan to cover the real cost associated with internal plumbing.

“Our announcement today is in line with this plan and our very generous rebate will help householders plumbing in a 3000 litre or bigger tanks and cover the cost."

Media Contact: Paul Childs, Craig Wallace’s office, on 0407 131 654.