Focus group to keep up pressure

WFTAG’S New Year focus includes the following activist strategies.

1. Continue to meet with the mayor and key council personnel for:

a) The council’s unambiguous definition of what water security means, including the descriptors for restriction levels, pumping percentage trigger and whether Stage 1 is considered to be FULL water security. We would also like to have clarification of how the council’s conservation and education policies will reflect and model best- practice water use in future.

b) Regular updates on status of designs for the modified 1800mm OD pipeline and solar power station at the Haughton end.

c) Whether the 36.5km of pipes can be manufactured locally or need to be freighted here and at what extra cost.

d) More definite sod turning, and therefore, completion dates.

e) Further clarification on the upgrade to the Haughton channel and if it is included in the state’s allocation of $ 225 million.

f) Continuing to attend the council’s new WTP ( Water Transition Package Team) meetings to advocate for the community, for fair, inclusive and transparent process. This forum is reviewing conservation strategies, water- wise education, restrictions, pumping triggers, pumping policy, ratepayer incentives, smart devices, best- practice council planting, developer guidelines, recycling etc.

2. Ongoing collaboration with Brad Webb in his independent role as the Townsville Water Security Taskforce chairman to lobby for his Stage 2 recommendations to be designed and installed at the same time or immediately after Stage 1.

NB. Stage 1 is the 36.5km second wider pipeline to the Haughton Pumping Station. It will supply 234ML per day as opposed to the 130ML per day from the old pipeline.

Solar power is needed to reduce pumping costs and to meet our City Deal expectations. The new pipeline will guarantee up to 15 years of water security and the benefit of the old pipeline for backup.

Stage 2 continues the new pipeline to Clare and will then provide 356ML per day total, for 70- plus years of water security.

A new plant is required at Toonpan to treat this extra volume and turbid type of water.

It will allow much of the supply to bypass Ross River Dam, where up to 80- 90ML per day is lost to evaporation and seepage when at 15 per cent.

3. Continue to lobby the three state incumbents, local federal representatives ( incumbents and opposition) to pressure the Federal Government to match the State Government’s funding. This would allow Stage 2 to proceed. If not funded now, it may never go ahead.

4. Continue to inform and increase our membership ( online) and summarise for the broader community the main issues and progress via the Townsville Bulletin and other media.