Gold Coast recycled water pipeline: Tom Tate’s shot at greenies as debate gets hot

MAYOR Tom Tate has taken a shot at “greenies” after a surge of protest from surfers about plans for a $32 million recycled water pipeline near one of the Gold Coast’s best surfing beaches.

The man-made surf break at South Stradbroke Island, Gold Coast. Surfers are concerned the wave will be ruined by the proposed recycled water pipeline. PicTerry/Kavanagh

MAYOR Tom Tate has taken a shot at “greenies” after a surge of protest from surfers about plans for a recycled water pipeline near one of the Gold Coast’s best surfing beaches.

The council is accused of being “environmentally and financially reckless” as almost $32 million has been budgeted in the next 12 months to build the pipeline across the Broadwater, South Stradbroke Island and extending 3kms out to sea.

A Bulletin report has provided mapping showing the pipeline’s route but the council maintains it will be 20m underground and further north of the surfing area known as The Other Side.

WHERE THE SOUTH STRADBROKE RECYCLED WATER PIPELINE WILL GO

Surf breaks on the beach near Couran Cove Resort on South Stradbroke Island.

On his mayoral Facebook page, Councillor Tate posted about a “another greenie triggered whinge about how the council is about to ‘destroy’ TOS surf break on the very southern end of South Stradbroke Island”.

“Council is undertaking possibly its single largest capital infrastructure build with the city’s waste water expansion project designed to handle our growing population’s waste water,” he wrote.

“Funny how I’m copping it from the greenies for getting ahead of population growth with an infrastructure building project — but let’s leave that hypocriticalness for another day.”

Cr Tate said the expanded ocean outfall pipe network would run underground “around two kilometres offshore” where the ocean floor dips away to the 20m depth mark.

GET FULL DIGITAL ACCESS FOR $3 A WEEK

A map showing the Gold Coast long term recycled water plan to include South Stradbroke Island

“The water being released is to recycled quality and meets State Government EPA regulations for such ocean outfall to ensure the environment is not harmed,” he said.

“We have an existing ocean outfall that releases recycled water in the seaway on the outgoing tide so this is a major improvement to the city’s waste water infrastructure and handling.

“Apparently a pipe buried 20 meters under the ground will somehow affect the sand and waves above.

“While I’m not a coastal processes engineer, blind Freddy can tell that’s more utter nonsense from the Save our Spit crowd who seem to have no more engineering or scientific qualifications in this greater than ‘I’m a regular surfer’.”

WATER PIPE: SURFERS CONCERNS SURFACE ABOUT WORLD CLASS BEACH BREAK

Mayor Tom Tate tees off against Save Our Spit. Pic:Adam Head

While the Mayor on his Facebook page received backing from regular supporters, the tone of the post caused division.

Retired businessman and pro-cruise ship campaigner Lindsay Jackson wrote: “Well said Tom, Myself plus thousands of other smart people of our community are sick and tired of the likes of Save Our Spit and all the other greenies knocking everything that needs to be done to make our Gold Coast the best liveable city in Australia as well as the number one holiday destination.

NEVER MISS A MINUTE WITH THE GOLD COAST BULLETIN APP

“We live in a democratic society, in a country of free speech but not one where very small minority of green groups think they have to power to rule. If these people think they are so smart, why aren’t they the decision makers instead of just giving unfounded opinions and pretending to be experts.”

But a female resident posted: ”Can you stop referring to anyone that has a debate or disagrees with you as a ‘greenie’ or ‘tree hugger’ whatever all that means — nothing wrong with people that care about the environment — it’s insulting — how should so called ‘greenies’ refer to your views.”

Pipeline used for the Gold Coast long term recycled water plan

Others supported Save Our Spit’s calls for the council to explore sending the water west to drought communities or suggested continuing the “purple pipe” under former Mayor Ron Clarke’s program of utilising recycled water in Upper Coomera.

Asked about the route for the pipeline, Cr Tate replied: “My office knocked up the image but we’ll get a more accurate version in the coming weeks and will post it here.”

He also rejected suggestions about sending the recycled water west to help drought impacted communities.

“It would cost billions to set up pipe lines and pump water westward over the great dividing range permanently — so that is clearly a project at the State level and not for this little council and its ratepayers to fund,” he said.