Published Monday, 24 December, 2007 at 03:00 PM
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
New move on North Stradbroke water alternative
Premier Anna Bligh has written to Federal Water Minister Penny Wong seeking funding to complete a project that offers an environmentally-friendly alternative to taking increased groundwater from North Stradbroke Island.
In October, Ms Bligh instructed the Department of Infrastructure to accelerate investigations into alternatives to the North Stradbroke component of the Eastern Pipeline Interconnector, which would have taken an extra 22Ml a day from the island’s aquifer.
The move followed the latest scientific assessment that confirmed the drought-hit aquifer was less full than expected and taking more water could risk long-term damage.
Ms Bligh said the investigations had identified the shortfall could be made up by connecting the Loganholme wastewater treatment plant to the Western Corridor Recycled Water Program pipeline.
That would bolster inflows by up to 29Ml a day, providing an extra 23Ml of drinking water even under drought conditions.
“This is clearly a long-term, environmentally-friendly outcome,” Ms Bligh said.
“It will improve the health of the Logan River and Moreton Bay while allowing the delicate water balance on North Stradbroke Island to be maintained.
“The report card on the Logan River at present is not good. The SEQ Healthy Waterways report rates it D- and we are confident that diagnosis will improve rapidly if this project proceeds.”
Ms Bligh has written to Senator Wong requesting the Federal Government allocate $100 million under the $1 Billion National Urban Water and Desalination Plan as part of its contribution to the WCRWP.
“I am confident that now we have a Federal Government that takes our water security seriously we will at last get a fair hearing,” Ms Bligh said.
Ms Bligh also announced that she had decided to release a State Government report on potential environmental effects of taking water from North Stradbroke after a Freedom of Information request from a local residents group had been declined because the document had been taken to Cabinet.
The report, Assessment of North Stradbroke Island Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems Potential Response to Proposed Increases in Groundwater Extraction June 2006, also will be available on the Department of Infrastructure’s website.
December 24, 2007
More information: Premier’s Office 0448 614420
In October, Ms Bligh instructed the Department of Infrastructure to accelerate investigations into alternatives to the North Stradbroke component of the Eastern Pipeline Interconnector, which would have taken an extra 22Ml a day from the island’s aquifer.
The move followed the latest scientific assessment that confirmed the drought-hit aquifer was less full than expected and taking more water could risk long-term damage.
Ms Bligh said the investigations had identified the shortfall could be made up by connecting the Loganholme wastewater treatment plant to the Western Corridor Recycled Water Program pipeline.
That would bolster inflows by up to 29Ml a day, providing an extra 23Ml of drinking water even under drought conditions.
“This is clearly a long-term, environmentally-friendly outcome,” Ms Bligh said.
“It will improve the health of the Logan River and Moreton Bay while allowing the delicate water balance on North Stradbroke Island to be maintained.
“The report card on the Logan River at present is not good. The SEQ Healthy Waterways report rates it D- and we are confident that diagnosis will improve rapidly if this project proceeds.”
Ms Bligh has written to Senator Wong requesting the Federal Government allocate $100 million under the $1 Billion National Urban Water and Desalination Plan as part of its contribution to the WCRWP.
“I am confident that now we have a Federal Government that takes our water security seriously we will at last get a fair hearing,” Ms Bligh said.
Ms Bligh also announced that she had decided to release a State Government report on potential environmental effects of taking water from North Stradbroke after a Freedom of Information request from a local residents group had been declined because the document had been taken to Cabinet.
The report, Assessment of North Stradbroke Island Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems Potential Response to Proposed Increases in Groundwater Extraction June 2006, also will be available on the Department of Infrastructure’s website.
December 24, 2007
More information: Premier’s Office 0448 614420