Taskforce ‘ dreamers’ won’t be bogged down by baseless views

IN RESPONSE Squelch’s letter dreamers discover reality” ( TB, 27/ 7).

Well, there ya go ... Australia’s first City Deal is dead in the shallow waters of Ross Dam. Water Taskforce chairman Brad Webb and I have been duped it seems by all the pollies – and Townsville will remain on level 3 or worse restrictions forever ( it might turn out Chris Squelch is right). to Chris “Taskforce the harsh

He/ she has at least read our Toonpan update in the Bulletin this week where we emphasised the state budget’s $ 225 million would only pay for stage 1 of the Water Taskforce’s recommended pipeline.

Our nonpartisan activism apparently has no hope of succeeding and none of the thousands of hours of volunteer p/ t research worthwhile. Can’t see the name Squelch in our WFTAG membership, let alone admin, to be familiar with the group’s aims, strategies, milestones and report.

As for his/ her fear of our supply being poisoned by terrorists ... the open channels would be the last soggy spots they might wade into to inject the few drops needed. Sprinkle them anywhere along the Burdekin from the base of the dam or in Ross Dam itself or even the treatment plant.

Fortunately we do not share your level of optimism. We will blunder on, naive and oblivious to the pitfalls of political skulduggery and government inertia, and continue to ask the prickly questions.

WFTAG admin members have a follow- up meeting with the Mayor on August 3, ongoing meetings with Mr Webb, with local and federal incumbents and candidates, and maybe meetings in Canberra.

Please join us and share your vision along with costed, practical infrastructure solutions – or just post the cheque for the $ 500 million we will continue to lobby for.

We are confident the three signatories to the Townsville City Deal would not want their first cab off the rank to fail because the top priority infrastructure is not fully funded.

We are half way there with state dollars ( less than 12 months after the public state- ment by council that Townsville did not have a water problem). If the dry ink from the federal pen wants its initiative to be the real deal, they will match state funding to provide the best water infrastructure we so desperately need and deserve for Townsville to revive and thrive. LINDA ASHTON

AND TEAM, Water For Townsville

Action Group