Told ya so

FOR several months now we have been reading in these pages intermittent claims that the TRC Mayor has been actively spearheading a forum of his wider region counterparts to plan the future of water supplies.

An extension of the Wivenhoe Pipeline with possible upgrading the pipeline and pumps seemed to be emerging as – at least in our Mayor’s mind – the preferred option.

Meanwhile the second Wivenhoe Bulk Water Agreement (Wivenhoe to Cressbrook) was revealed as having not yet been formally settled even though the renewal date was January 2020.

Last week the State Minister for Water attended a meeting of Mayors, and a few days later, the Toowoomba Chronicle reported (02/10) that the TRC Mayor is now saying recycled waste water is very much back on the agenda.

So what has changed?

Could it be that the Minister “read the Riot Act” to all concerned and indicated that the headlong reliance on dipping into Wivenhoe could not be continued and that improved efficiency of future water use would need to be achieved – including recycling?

And could it be that the Minister also indicated – as Premier Beattie did over local government amalgamations – (paraphrasing) “either improve your efficiencies by your own actions or government will step in and do it for you” (meaning transferring all TRC raw water assets/functions to SEQ Water).

The cynic in my head also wonders if this is why the second iteration of the Bulk Water Supply Agreement has not been settled.

But none of this push to include recycled waste water in the mix (literally) should come as a surprise to anyone.

Indeed, to jog regular readers’ memories, on 28/02/2017, Toowoomba Chronicle published a letter from myself under the heading Water Recycling May Become Compulsory in which the last two paragraphs were:

“I urge Toowoomba Regional Council to dust off the (TCC) Water Futures report of 2006, review it and bring it up to date with the latest technology, and then bring it back into the public forum for discussion.

You know someone’s going to have to do it one day, so why not start the process now?”

That was four and half year ago. It could have been done and dusted by now.

And in light of last week’s change of heart, I feel totally justified in saying: Told ya so!

TONY LAKE, Meringandan West