Toowoomba councillors frustrated over ratepayers footing $1.8m water carting bill for Clifton

It has cost Toowoomba ratepayers more than $1.8m for the council to cart water to the drought-stricken community of Clifton. Now councillors have expressed frustration at a perceived double standard by the State Government.

Cr Rebecca Vonhoff has expressed frustration at the State Government. Photo Bev Lacey

Toowoomba councillors have weighed up sending a delegation to Parliament House to appeal for the State Government to compensate the council for nearly $2m in water carting costs.

The council has been trucking water to the drought-stricken community of Clifton since late 2019, with the costs covered by the ratepayers.

The State Government rejected a request from the council for compensation, despite doing the same thing for the Southern Downs Regional Council during that region’s drought crisis.

Speaking in committee meetings on Wednesday, Councillor Rebecca Vonhoff said the council should ask again, saying it was only fair.

“Since November 2019 through to the end of June 2021, ratepayers have spent $1.8m carting water to Clifton and that’s about $89k a month,” she said.

“We’ve previously asked the State Government for financial relief with that and that request was rejected.

“By comparison, Southern Downs Regional Council made a similar request and it was agreed to.

“In the past six months, Southern Downs’ fortunes have changed because they have had that wonderful rain and ours have not changed.

“So I think it’s time we revisited that request and again say that we’re now in excess of $1.8m out of pocket, and we again come to them and ask for the same treatment as Southern Downs.”

Mayor Paul Antonio said he had broached the matter with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk previously, but was happy to try again with another letter.

“They’ve put Southern Downs in a different category to us for some reason,” he said.

“I’m happy to send another letter to the premier.

“It’s a question of fairness, and that’s something I’ve brought up previously.”

Councillor Nancy Sommerfield said the council should step up the advocacy by requesting an audience with the government.

“I just think we’re past the point of writing a letter, I think we need a delegation down there to emphasise and a clear answer as to why we’re not getting that funding,” she said.

The Toowoomba region’s dams currently sit at 30.7 per cent and Clifton remains on high level water restrictions.

Originally published as Toowoomba councillors frustrated over ratepayers footing $1.8m water carting bill for Clifton