Recycled water, new dams on the agenda for regional water alliance of regional mayors

The expanded use of recycled water and new dams are options being explored by an alliance of mayors across inland Queensland and northern NSW to shore up water security into the future.

The future growth of Toowoomba was contingent on water security, with new dams and increased use of recycled water options to be explored by an alliance of councils across inland Queensland and northern NSW.

Mayors from Toowoomba, Western Downs, Southern Downs, Goondiwindi and Lockyer Valley regional councils, as well as Tenterfield Shire Council, met with state government Water Minister Glenn Butcher to map the region’s current water situation and assess future options to ensure the demands of regional growth can be met.

Toowoomba Regional Council Mayor Paul Antonio said water security was a top priority for many industries looking to invest across the Darling Downs.

Cormorant Bay at Wivenhoe Dam.

Last week Mr Antonio called on the state government to immediately fund the $25 million upgrade of its Wivenhoe pump station as part of a mayoral motion at the TRC ordinary council meeting.

“I deal with a lot of people who come into town with a dream, a vision, and they’re saying they’re not sure about our water security,” he said.

“The Toowoomba region is experiencing a period of significant growth and is seen by business as an ideal location for the development of new industry.

“While this is welcomed, the ongoing success of the region is reliant on being open for business. Recent interest by investors suggest this may have a higher demand on water in the short-term.

“Toowoomba’s Wivenhoe pipeline has been critical in the current drought and is the only immediately available water source capable of providing capacity for growth within the Toowoomba region.”

Toowoomba Regional Council Mayor Paul Antonio with Southern Downs Regional Council Mayor Vic Pennisi at a meeting of the Southern Queensland Inland and New South Wales Border Regional Water Alliance.

Mr Antonio said the pump upgrade was a simple solution for the short term, but more needed to be done to address fundamental water security for the region.

“The alliance will look at all the options, including new dams and the use of recycled water in the water cycle, and that includes the fact that we need to preserve our water as best we can and use it efficiently,” he said.

“The most important part of the water cycle that’s pretty much untouched at the moment is recycled water. I know Toowoomba went through a pretty bad time with that, but there will be, down the track, recycled water available for Wivenhoe, it’ll be mixed with an awful lot of other water, and I would suggest that one of the things we can do here is get industry established around some of that recycled water.

“I think there’s an opportunity for all communities to use recycled water on gardens and ovals and save high quality water for drinking and the like. Recycled water is a critical part of the future.”

Mr Butcher announced on Thursday the state government was investing $8.1 million for detailed design, surveying and geotechnical work for the Toowoomba to Warwick pipeline and $4.6 million in upgrades to reconnect groundwater available to the Allora township, freeing up to 350 megalitres of additional Southern Downs urban water supply annually.