November 12, 2019
Toowoomba Regional Council will consider a proposal to subsidise 10,000 litre water tanks in an effort to increase water security in the region.
The proposal has come from the Council’s Water and Waste Committee.
At Tuesday’s committee meeting, chair Cr Nancy Sommerfield said the initiative would encourage responsible water use and help relieve pressure on existing potable water supplies.
“With the current drought showing no end in sight, we need to be looking at every opportunity available to us right now,” Cr Sommerfield said.
“One way of doing this is through a water tank rebate scheme.”
Cr Sommerfield said the committee would recommend Toowoomba Regional Council consider a $1 million initiative that would provide a rebate to the first 3300 applications to retrofit 10,000 litre or larger water tanks to existing houses connected to a Council reticulation scheme.
If adopted, the rebate scheme would run from January 1, 2020 until June 30, 2020.
After this, Council could review the uptake of the scheme and possibly extend the program as part of its 2020-21 budget considerations.
Cr Sommerfield said the scheme would help residents use more rainwater for domestic purposes, including gardening, and relieve pressure on potable water supplies.
She said the Council should also send out an Expression of Interest for irrigators to supply ground water for Council use.
“It’s vital we continue to explore alternative water sources in relation to the purchasing of water allocations, whether that be for parks and recreation or dust suppression for construction activities, as this will help us reduce strain on the underground aquifers.
“In addition to these initiatives Council is continuing to work with all levels of government to explore alternative water sources such as new dams, ground water allocations and manufactured water options.”
The recommendation was approved at the Water and Waste Committee meeting and will now go to the Ordinary Meeting of Council on November 19 for endorsement.
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UPDATE November 20: Toowoomba Regional Council has approved its water tank subsidy scheme (see video below)
