Assessing the Toowoomba Region’s water needs

Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) has called on the State Government to undertake a regional water supply options assessment for the Darling Downs.

Speaking at the Ordinary Meeting of Council on 18 August, Water and Waste Committee Chair Councillor Rebecca Vonhoff said this was a necessary formal first step towards securing long-term supply options for the Toowoomba Region.

“This motion is an acknowledgment that we’re limited by two things: cost and the availability of water supply options within the boundaries of our Region,” she said.

“Water security is our highest priority and while we continue to plan for water quality, level of service, peak demand periods, population projections, risk and reliability, we’re limited by cost and the availability of water supply options within the boundaries of our local government area.

“We know what options we have. We know what we can afford and what water sources are in our geographical boundaries. We know that we can increase our water security by a gigalitre here and there. We have more than a billion dollars’ worth of industry waiting for more water around Charlton and Wellcamp. That means jobs for people in our Region. And our incremental water increases won't unlock our potential. We need something big. Something generational.

“We’re told that to pay back the debt we’re accruing as a nation and as a state, we need to grow our way out of COVID. Well here’s an opportunity. And I know that this will be supported by industry and agriculture because we’ve heard what they’ve been saying. We are Australia’s future inland hub – if we can just add water.

“So let’s extract that commitment; that every option be put on the table and eliminate them one by one through the assessment process until the best water source for the Darling Downs is identified; that water supply that will take us forward past my generation and even my children's generation.

“Is that reworking the Nathan Dam? Is that desalination on the coast and connection to our Region? A grid across the Downs? Pipes into Wyaralong? We might each have our personal opinions on what the best option is. But opinions need to be supported by evidence. And opinions alone can’t justify massive infrastructure investment. Let’s take our opinions out of it and get an assessment moving. We need the State Government to have agency in our water security. And we need the Federal Government to have the same.

“If I consider this motion from the perspective of the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy, I imagine this being a useful and critical springboard for them to assess long-term water options for the Downs.

“That’s why we’re requesting the State and Federal Governments to commit to undertaking a regional water supply options assessment and that key supply options be considered for the Darling Downs. We further ask that both levels of government acknowledge the criticality of this work by considering fast-tracking its completion. This will be a long journey but it starts today.

“This signals the need for co-operation of local, State and Federal Governments to progress water security for the Downs. We’re looking to the future while recognising the past and the work carried out over previous decades investigating water solutions.”

In supporting the motion Water and Waste Committee portfolio lead Councillor Nancy Sommerfield said Council needed partners on its water journey.

“I fully support this recommendation as I believe we need to provide a stage for joint collaboration,” she said.

“Working together across multiple local government areas with the State and Federal Governments is powerful, particularly when it comes to water.

“Water is key to everything we do and until all levels of government work together, singing from the same hymn sheet, we will continue to create patchwork solutions which doesn’t provide a long-term vision for water. I thank Councillor Rebecca for preparing this resolution today to drive cohesive water outcomes.”

For more information visit www.tr.qld.gov.au or contact Council on 131 872.