February 15, 2013

South Burnett Mayor Wayne Kratzmann has praised the State Government for allowing individual councils to decide whether water tanks should remain compulsory in new developments in their areas.

The State Government announced yesterday that it had scrapped the requirement for new properties to include rainwater tanks but local councils would be able to opt to retain mandatory tank requirements where they could prove a net benefit to the community

Mayor Kratzmann told southburnett.com.au his personal view was that water tanks should remain mandatory in the South Burnett council area.

“It coincides with our decision to take fluoride out of the water,” he said.

And the last thing our towns need is more water being directed into street drains, he said.

Cr Kratzmann said he was pleased the State Government recognised that local councils were the best placed to make decisions that affected their local communities, which he put down to the fact that Premier Campbell Newman, Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney and Local Government Minister David Crisafulli all had a strong local government background.

“Councils have to be big enough and strong enough to make a decision – and stand by it – that is best for their region, even if it is not popular with some people,” he said.

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