EXPECT THE STATE TO BLEED US DRY

WATER, water, everywhere – and the Gold Coast will pay the price of its wise decision to drought-proof the city when other parts of Southeast Queensland start raiding its supply.

The city will be the victim of its own success in having the foresight during the grim years of what became known as the Millennium Drought to set about shoring up its stocks, initiating the necessary stage three expansion of the Hinze Dam and getting the ball rolling on construction of the desalination plant.

The dam remains at 90 per cent capacity following the flood rains of March this year. That’s great news, but the way the state now operates its water supply network means Gold Coasters will still be subjected to restrictions, penalties and perhaps added costs if and when drought bites in other parts of Southeast Queensland.

The Tugun desalination plant meanwhile stands ready to prove its worth if a major drought hits. It remains on standby for much of the time now and short-sighted elements have branded it a white elephant, but the state government of the time certainly recognised the city council’s farsighted decision to build a plant and jumped in on the project, expanding the $1 billion facility’s production capacity.

If and when they are applied, restrictions on Gold Coasters’ use of water will be imposed from state government level and by SEQWater, which grates considering the cost burden Gold Coast consumers have already carried in funding infrastructure.

But residents should prepare themselves.

Council water and waste management committee chairman Paul Taylor says water use conditions might have to be tightened if more rain does not come.

Despite the floods earlier this year, rainfall has not measured up.

Anyone checking the Queensland Government’s Long Paddock website will see a massive sea – or should that be desert? – of red across the map of the state showing areas that are drought declared or partially drought declared.