Qld: Beattie, mayor nut out solution to Toowoomba's water crisis

AAP General News (Australia)
08-01-2006
Qld: Beattie, mayor nut out solution to Toowoomba's water crisis

BRISBANE, Aug 1 AAP - Queensland Premier Peter Beattie is meeting Toowoomba's mayor
today to work on an alternative solution to the city's growing water crisis.

More than 61 per cent of residents of the drought-stricken Darling Downs city west
of Brisbane rejected on Saturday a referendum proposing the recycling of sewage for drinking
water.

The poll, the first of its kind in Australia, was seen as a touchstone for community
attitudes to the recycling of effluent, which is already in widespread use overseas as
well as some parts of Australia.

The Toowoomba council must now look at other ways to address the city's water woes,
including drilling bores.

Mr Beattie said he was willing to consider whatever option Toowoomba Mayor Di Thorley
puts on table at their meeting in Brisbane.

But he said it was unlikely the government would allow the Toowoomba council to tap
into Brisbane's Wivenhoe Dam.

"The people have spoken and my job is to put that behind us and see what help we can
give," Mr Beattie told ABC Radio today.

Ms Thorley said the city must put the referendum behind it and focus on other solutions.

"Whatever happens now has huge environmental repercussions, as well as huge costs," she said.

"There's no silver bullet."

AAP rm/it/nf

KEYWORD: WATER QLD DAYLEAD

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