Toowoomba’s water security at a ‘critical stage’
HAVING navigated the “Poo-woomba” debate and the building of the Wivenhoe pipeline three years later, Toowoomba has reached a “far more critical stage”.
Toowoomba
Don't miss out on the headlines from Toowoomba. Followed categories will be added to My News.
HAVING navigated the "Poo-woomba" debate of 2006 and the subsequent building of the Wivenhoe pipeline three years later, Toowoomba has reached a "far more critical stage" of its water security discussion than ever before, according to Mayor Paul Antonio.
The region has three dams and the Wivenhoe pipeline on which to rely for its drinking water.
But if water infrastructure is to keep up with population growth, Cr Antonio believes the community will need to think "outside the square" to find solutions.
"We've got more people coming here, and we haven't got adequate dams to cover the future of this place," he said.
"Now we're safe until 2049 but as mayor of this community, 2049 is not that far away. We need to be preparing for the next few generations of people who are going to live here.
"We all must be conscious of the fact that water has become the new currency."
Cr Antonio is not conjuring dystopian, Mad Max-style visions, however.
"Anywhere you look around Australia … look at those places where water is in fact stored and used. You've got a fair bit of vibrancy in the economy. That's what we need to happen," he said.
"If you look at agriculture on the Darling Downs - what is the limiting factor for production? It's water.
"What's the limiting factor for population growth here? It's water."
With the region in the grip of a relentless drought - in some areas, such as Jondaryan, it's the worst in a century - the council has begun discussing Toowoomba's water cycle in earnest.
More efficient water use in household, business and council's infrastructure is the first step.
But with nowhere ideal to build new dams, water will have to come from somewhere.
Cr Antonio and CEO Brian Pidgeon took that discussion to Canberra on Monday, meeting with Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack to sheet home the message: The Toowoomba region wants to work with you and be at the forefront of building a national water grid.
The National Water Grid Authority was a Liberal National Party election commitment that came into being at the start of this month.
The authority's goal is to identify opportunities to build water infrastructure that secures long-term water supplies across the country.
For Cr Antonio, those opportunities include the possibility of using Brisbane's recycled wastewater that is currently piped into Moreton Bay, or pumping water into the region from the Clarence River. With regard to Brisbane's treated wastewater, Cr Antonio said it would be "of great advantage" if it were able to be used for agriculture in the Toowoomba region - particularly shedded horticulture.
"I think that water, while it would be expensive, in places like shedded horticulture you'd find they'd be able to pay for that water," he said.
Another future-proofing idea that Cr Antonio is advocating for ties in with the Inland Rail project.
The line will have to tunnel through the Great Dividing Range just north of Mount Lofty.
"I'm very keen to see two lines as well as room for a pipeline. And I think that is strategic thinking," he said.
Cr Antonio said that idea had not gone unnoticed by Australian Rail Track Corporation.
The most contentious idea of them all, however, is the pumping of water from the Clarence River in New South Wales.
"It doesn't all go down well with the people in northern NSW," Cr Antonio said.
"But the reality is that we need to look at where we can source water for the future."
Cr Antonio said there had been plans dating back to the 1980s to divert water from the upper reaches of the Clarence River system to the upper reaches of the Condamine River at Elbow Valley, north of Killarney.
He said it would divert 0.0042% of the maximum annual flow from the mouth of the Clarence River.
"It requires a 21km diversion, including a 6.7km tunnel and the flow, apart from the initial pumping, would pretty much be gravity fed, with the potential for hydro power as well. So it's got a lot of things going for it," he said.
"Where would it go? Well Warwick, Allora, Clifton, and the southern side of Toowoomba.
"Some people may suggest that I'm dreaming. Yep. It's a good thing to do. You've got to dream about the future and you've got to wonder how the hell we can make this place a better place.
"And water is not going to be a cheap commodity in the future and I think now is the time to make the tough decision around where we get the next lot of water from, get it, and get it done now so it doesn't cost us two or three times as much in 20 years time."
Do you have an idea for Toowoomba's long-term water security? Email letters@thechronicle.com.au
