{"id":250304,"date":"2019-12-16T15:55:00","date_gmt":"2019-12-16T05:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=250304"},"modified":"2020-07-13T17:43:57","modified_gmt":"2020-07-13T07:43:57","slug":"lgaq-calls-for-more-action-on-water","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2019\/12\/16\/lgaq-calls-for-more-action-on-water\/","title":{"rendered":"LGAQ Calls For More Action On Water"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
The LGAQ has released four confronting videos showing the effects of drought on farmers in the South and North Burnett, Southern Downs and Darling Downs<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

December 16, 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) has called on the State and Federal Governments to take more action on water security.<\/p>\n

It has released four videos featuring farmers from the South and North Burnett, Southern Downs and Darling Downs to emphasise the need for more irrigation in the State.<\/p>\n

LGAQ CEO Greg Hallam has also written to the Prime Minister and Queensland Premier urging them to drive a unified approach to water security.<\/p>\n

“More than two-thirds of Queensland is now drought declared, affecting almost three million people,” Mr Hallam said.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Queensland towns like Stanthorpe, Clifton, Bell, Canungra and Dayboro are now relying on water carting to provide what we in the city take for granted.”<\/p>\n

Mr Hallam said the Federal Government\u2019s move to provide drought funding for non-farm businesses and extra funding for councils in drought-affected regions was a win for Queensland communities.<\/p>\n

Similarly, the State Government\u2019s funding for upgraded water infrastructure in towns such as Stanthorpe was welcome.<\/p>\n

“What is missing, however, is a strategy for rural towns’ water supply, agreed to and supported by all three tiers of government,” Mr Hallam said. <\/strong><\/p>\n

“This should be the highest priority for the Council of Australian Governments, and needs to occur in a spirit of collaboration, innovation and without blame \u2013 but it needs to occur urgently.”<\/p>\n

The LGAQ is urging all leaders to consider their drought and water security strategies.<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s time politicians put aside their differences and stood shoulder to shoulder with Queensland councils who are at the frontline of this creeping disaster,” he said.<\/p>\n

“The greatest gift we can give the hundreds of thousands of Queenslanders this Christmas is that someone is listening and delivering real solutions to water security, a basic human need.”<\/p>\n

The LGAQ’s four-part video series documents the devastating effects of the drought on the people living with it every day on the land and in struggling towns. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Apart from measures to introduce more irrigation in Queensland’s agricultural areas, the LGAQ is calling for greater investment in water and sewerage reticulation in rural towns.<\/p>\n

“Ageing water and sewerage infrastructure in Queensland is a looming and urgent issue,” Mr Hallam said.<\/p>\n

“A water pipe busts every 80 minutes in rural towns due to the age of the reticulation network.<\/p>\n

“The Federal Government holds the key to the coffers: 80 percent of our nation\u2019s taxes.”<\/p>\n