Fun, fun, fun!

GOOD to see the council publishing some information about the water supplies (two items in TC 03/02). However some of the statements made need clarification.

Firstly that old chestnut “… if it doesn’t rain again…” (sic) then the 40% combined dams level will be reached in December.

Based on the council’s own dam depletion records since January 2014 and more recently the trend since the last significant inflow (October 2017) the 40% level will be reached in April 2019 not December 2018.

But I do agree the dams are likely to reach 40% in FY2018/19. Just how that will translate into charges in the upcoming budget we have yet to be advised. Dare I suggest you don’t hold your breath and expect to know until after the budget is brought down when it’ll be far too late to protest?

Secondly the per-capita usage figures quoted by the council are for residential consumption in Toowoomba city only. Some communities outside the city use a lot less.

Thirdly I note the claim that water supply restrictions are currently under review.

Since the commissioning of the Wivenhoe pipeline, all areas have been covered by “permanent conservation measures” (the Target 200 campaign) – i.e. minimising use through cooperation. The next tighter level of restrictions for the “bulk” area is documented to apply when the dams get down to 30%. However if pumping starts at 40% and supplies are maintained, 30% would never be reached.

I have raised this issue a number of time already and asked if this means the council would rather “pump and charge” than involve its ratepayers in the co-management of dwindling water resources through the progressive application of restrictions. I was told – unofficially of course – that the pipeline meant water restrictions would never again be applied.

It’ll be very interesting to see how the current claim of restriction policy review translates into action, if ever it does.

And finally a quick look at the potential politics of the next two years.

Renegotiation of the pipeline agreement must start somewhere in the timeslot Jan/Jul 2019 and be completed in time for the official renewal date of 28/01/20.

That means the council’s ongoing charges policy for its water “bulk” area supplies will need to be largely defined in FY2018/19, and almost certainly will be held under wraps until 28/01/20, which the eagle-eyed amongst you will note is just six weeks before the next local government elections (March 2020).

And with the Queensland state elections slated for October, 2020 is going to be fun, fun, fun, all the way.

— TONY LAKE, Meringandan West