Southeast Queensland faces water restrictions weeks before October 2024 election
Southeast Queensland could be forced onto water restrictions a month before the October 2024 election.
Southeast Queensland could be forced onto water restrictions a month before the October 2024 election as the state’s two major parties attempt to avoid a politically volatile debate about adding recycled water to the region’s drinking supply.
New water security modelling from government agency Seqwater, forecasts the region’s water grid could drop to 50 per cent by next September, triggering mandatory restrictions.
Seqwater, which supplies drinking water to millions of residents, warned the Palaszczuk government in December that an alternative water source is needed a decade earlier than predicted because of rapid population growth and new climate change modelling.
In its December report, which has not been publicly released, Seqwater floats the permanent use of recycled water in the region’s drinking supply as well as a new desalination plant to accompany a largely unused plant on the Gold Coast.
Annastacia Palaszczuk’s cabinet will this month decide whether to build a new multi-billion desalination plant, north of Brisbane, or introduce recycled water into the drinking supply.
On Tuesday, Water Minister Glenn Butcher confirmed a new 30-year water strategy would be released by the end of the year.
“That will highlight what we need to do for any future water sources that we need for population growth, we also have climate change that we need to be concerned about and look at,” he said.
“We know the success of the (Gold Coast) desalination plant, we also know that recycled water is a thing that a lot of countries around the world continue to use,” he said.
Australia is on alert for an El Nino weather event, which brings hot and dry conditions after three consecutive years of La Nina-induced rain.
On Tuesday, the South East Queensland water grid was at 70.7 per cent, down from 81.3 per cent in early January.
The long-term water modelling, handed to Brisbane City Council this month, warns levels could fall to 60 per cent by January 2024 and 50 per cent by September.
Under current water policy, the Western Corridor Recycled Water Scheme would be turned back on if dam levels hit 60 per cent and used to supplement drinking supplies at 40 per cent.
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the city “desperately” needs another major water source.
“I’m agnostic about whether it’s a dam, desalination or recycled water,” he said.
“We need to have this debate about water security, because the population is growing, we‘re facing dry conditions.”
Residents could face an increase of at least 15 per cent to their water bill to cover the cost of building a new desalination plant – which has been estimated at between $4bn and $8bn – if the state government chooses that option.
Senior government sources have told The Australian that Ms Palaszczuk and her cabinet favoured a new desalination plant to boost the water supply, despite the cost.
The Liberal National opposition has not outlined its water security policy and a spokesman for leader David Crisafulli would not say whether the party would progress a new desalination plant or use recycled water if elected next year.
“The LNP is continuing to work with communities and stakeholders to ensure the LNP’s water security policy is water tight and futureproofs the state. That will be released ahead of the next election.
“The Palaszczuk Labor Government has failed to produce a Water Security Plan, despite being in power for a decade.”
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