Published Thursday, 23 October, 2008 at 10:30 AM
Minister for Main Roads and Local Government
The Honourable Warren Pitt
Cairns businesses make splash in conserving drinking water
Cairns and Port Douglas businesses are set to save a whopping 230 million litres of drinking water a year, thanks to the State Government’s $15 million regional Business Water Efficiency Program.
Local Government Minister Warren Pitt – who today toured the premises of Cairns Colonial Club Resort, one of the program’s participants – said far north businesses were proving to be regional Queensland water-saving champions.
The Business Water Efficiency Program (BWEP) is a Queensland Government initiative to provide incentives to help businesses and industry save water. BWEP offers funding, rebates and subsidies to help meet the cost of water-efficiency projects.
Mr Pitt, speaking in the lead-up to next week’s regional sitting of Parliament in Cairns, said regional Queensland businesses had committed $12 million in water-saving initiatives, with BWEP contributing $3.2 million.
“Through this initiative and the enthusiastic efforts of far northern businesses, more than 1000 million litres a year of drinking water will be saved,” he said.
Mr Pitt said businesses in Cairns and Port Douglas made up almost 40 per cent of all regional BWEP applications when funding closed in August this year. Next best performers were Fraser Coast (22 per cent) and Townsville (10 per cent).
“It has been a magnificent response from local businesses, ranging from accommodation businesses such as the Cairns Colonial Club Resort, to tourism operators and retailers,’’ he said.
“At the Colonial Club Resort, about 350 showers will be replaced with new water-efficient showerheads and more than 400 tap sets will also be replaced.
“During the next six months, local businesses will spend $2 million to save 230 million litres of precious drinking water a year – or the equivalent of about 100 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
“In total, these businesses will account for almost one-quarter of all water saved in regional Queensland as part of BWEP.’’
Cairns Regional Council mayor Cr Val Schier applauded local businesses for taking up the challenge of better managing their water use.
“Even though we live in a region of typically high rainfall, there is an increasing expectation from the community that we manage this resource in the most efficient way.’’
Cairns Colonial Club Resort general manager Peter Blackburn said the resort was undertaking an extensive retrofit program of its guest facilities.
“At the end of the day, we will be able to save almost 50 million litres of drinking water each year, with further water saving initiatives planned,’’ he said.
BWEP is being delivered by a partnership between the state’s new water authority, Seqwater, and the Cairns Regional Council. All BWEP-funded projects will be completed and delivering water savings by March 2009.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819
Local Government Minister Warren Pitt – who today toured the premises of Cairns Colonial Club Resort, one of the program’s participants – said far north businesses were proving to be regional Queensland water-saving champions.
The Business Water Efficiency Program (BWEP) is a Queensland Government initiative to provide incentives to help businesses and industry save water. BWEP offers funding, rebates and subsidies to help meet the cost of water-efficiency projects.
Mr Pitt, speaking in the lead-up to next week’s regional sitting of Parliament in Cairns, said regional Queensland businesses had committed $12 million in water-saving initiatives, with BWEP contributing $3.2 million.
“Through this initiative and the enthusiastic efforts of far northern businesses, more than 1000 million litres a year of drinking water will be saved,” he said.
Mr Pitt said businesses in Cairns and Port Douglas made up almost 40 per cent of all regional BWEP applications when funding closed in August this year. Next best performers were Fraser Coast (22 per cent) and Townsville (10 per cent).
“It has been a magnificent response from local businesses, ranging from accommodation businesses such as the Cairns Colonial Club Resort, to tourism operators and retailers,’’ he said.
“At the Colonial Club Resort, about 350 showers will be replaced with new water-efficient showerheads and more than 400 tap sets will also be replaced.
“During the next six months, local businesses will spend $2 million to save 230 million litres of precious drinking water a year – or the equivalent of about 100 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
“In total, these businesses will account for almost one-quarter of all water saved in regional Queensland as part of BWEP.’’
Cairns Regional Council mayor Cr Val Schier applauded local businesses for taking up the challenge of better managing their water use.
“Even though we live in a region of typically high rainfall, there is an increasing expectation from the community that we manage this resource in the most efficient way.’’
Cairns Colonial Club Resort general manager Peter Blackburn said the resort was undertaking an extensive retrofit program of its guest facilities.
“At the end of the day, we will be able to save almost 50 million litres of drinking water each year, with further water saving initiatives planned,’’ he said.
BWEP is being delivered by a partnership between the state’s new water authority, Seqwater, and the Cairns Regional Council. All BWEP-funded projects will be completed and delivering water savings by March 2009.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819