Council launches $1m water tank rebate scheme
HOMEOWNERS in the Toowoomba region who install a 10,000L water tank will get money back on their water rates as part of a $1 million plan by the council.
Toowoomba
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HOMEOWNERS in the Toowoomba region who install a 10,000L water tank will get money back on their water rates as part of a $1 million plan by the council.
Councillors yesterday endorsed a plan by water and waste general manager Damian Platts to offer rebates worth $300 for the first 3300 retrofitted tanks installed or ordered between January 1 and June 30 2020.
According to Mr Platts, the move would take pressure off the Toowoomba region’s dwindling bulk water supply.
“The way we would fund that would be with a discount on the next cycle on either the water rates or general rates charges,” he said.
“This is an unbudgeted matter which will be coming into budget review one, so this is basically taking $1 million off the bottom line.
“The purpose of which the residents could apply these tanks could be for washing their boat, keeping their garden going, but the important thing is to try and get some load off the bulk water systems and off our stressed aquifer systems.”
Cr Mike Williams said he didn’t believe the council would end up with 3300 rebates, pointing to a similar scheme run in 2009 which offered an even larger rebate and still didn’t reach its target.
Mr Platts said the initiative needed a cap at the end in case there was large demand, but expected it to not hit the target.
As part of the motion, the council will also open an expressions of interest campaign to landholders and irrigators with current water allocations who might want to sell its water to the council.
“Opening an EOI for existing holders of water allocations to express interest in either selling their allocation, or entering seasonal water assignment agreements will assist council to maintain roads, construction dust suppression and also maintain open spaces and recreational facilities,” the report said.
Water and waste chair Cr Nancy Sommerfield said the council needed to explore every water-saving option as the drought continued.
“It’s vital we continue to explore alternative water sources in relation to the purchasing of water allocations, whether that be for parks and recreation or dust suppression for construction activities as this will help us reduce strain on the underground aquifers,” she said in a statement.
The motion is expected to be ratified at the ordinary meeting next week.
For more information visit the website or phone the council on 131 872.