Execs exalt water plans
TOWNSVILLE City Council has passionately spruiked its handling of the multimilliondollar Water Smart Package after criticism surrounding a hefty marketing bill.
In a full meeting of council yesterday, council chief executive Mike Chiodo labelled the water security package – which includes the Haughton Pipeline project, the recycled water re-use scheme and the $10 million Water Smart Package – as “probably the most important project” in council’s history.
It comes after the Townsville Bulletin reported consultancy firm AEC’S contract with council to market the Water Smart Package and run an education campaign had increased to more than $800,000.
Townsville City Council water security program director Inga Davis, during the meeting, said the contract had outlined the need for variations from the get-go.
She said AEC was initially appointed on a “schedule of rates contract” worth $241,100.
“Given the campaign design was uncertain at the point of tender, council felt it was not best to purchase those services until the campaign was further developed to ensure no money was wasted,” she said.
This coupled with the need for extensive market research and AEC being best placed to source marketing materials from its suppliers added to the final bill, according to council.
The total amount to be paid to AEC, inclusive of celebrity gardener Jamie Durie’s $350,000 contract, is expected to be $831,814.
Acting Mayor Les Walker said the Water Smart Package would now move to the next phase, which will run until September 2020, focusing on developing water efficient behaviour in the community.
The educational campaign is being developed with AEC and plans to “spread key tips on long-term water saving practices”.
Mr Durie, along with Townsville locals, suppliers, council staff and industry experts, will also “feature in educational and fun videos and promotional materials” to be broadcast across the city.
“This has been one of the most successful grassroots community campaigns we have seen in many years,” Cr Walker said.
“We’re now at the point where 90 per cent of the funds have been allocated in rebates and garden support packages in just over two months.”
According to council, about 100 direct and indirect jobs had been created through the Water Smart Package, more than 19,000 households have registered, and more than 150,000 products and services are on order.