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New state water policy just an "election stunt", says Cr Abbott |
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Written by Les Fawkes
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Friday, 08 April 2011 |
On April 7th, Queensland Premier, Anna Bligh announced plans to dramatically change the policy in respect to the supply of water by capping the price will mean the maximum increase to the average household from the council owned entity will be $78 and possible changes to the policy in respect to the distribution of water. This follows months of public outcry about the continual spiraling cost of water.
On
top of this Councils who wish to return to their previous structure
will be able to do that and once again take control of the supply of
water.
In announcing the changes to the S.E.Q. Water Ms Bligh said, “Enough is enough. The blame game on water ends today.”
She
continued that, “I have listened to ratepayers across the South East.
The spiraling increased cost of water is unfair and it has to stop.”
Following
this announcement Sunshine Coast Mayor,Cr Bob Abbott said, “This is a
blatant short-term political fix in an election year”.
Cr
Abbott said, “We haven’t even seen the documentation to know what this
“This council, alongside all SEQ Councils, will now be demanding further
information from the State on this quick-fix policy.
He
continued, “With very little detail, the Premier has announced changes
to its expensive and dysfunctional $7 billlion water grid which will see
no financial sacrifices being made by the State Government but plenty
being made by local councils.”
No
information was available as to what would happen to the bodies such as
Unitywater which were set up in 2009 to distribute water in
S.E.Queensland. Nor was there any information about how prices could
be reduced now that more than seven billion dollars have been spent on
infastructure.
A spokesperson for The Local Government Association of Queensland said “The Sunshine Coast is now
paying for a bulk water grid that can't provide us water security, a
desalination plant that doesn't work and a recycling plant the
government won't use. On top of that we have a $900 million pipeline to
nowhere on the Sunshine Coast.''
Returning
the distribution of water to councils now will not ensure that costs
will drop as much of the money has been expended on questionable
infastructure and administration setup but will still have to be repaid.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 26 April 2011 )
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Range News 2005 - ON 
