OFFICE OF THE PREMIER

Response letter

27 November 1998

.....The Premier referred this matter to the Honourable Rod Welford MLA, Minister tor Environment and Heritage and Minister for Natural Resources who has advised that due to public pressure, the Caloundra City Council has resolved to cancel a proposed plan to allow highly treated effluent from the Landsborough Sewage Treatment Plant to flow through a purpose built artificial wetland and into Ewan Maddock Dam.

This proposal was to be a key component of a trial whereby Caloundra City Council intended to explore the viability of augmenting water supplies with recycled water early next century. It was proposed that future community consultation be carried out in the year 2004 to determine the public's acceptability of this innovative plan.

As part of the Wastewater Management Strategy there was a community consultation component which considered a number of options for either reusing treated wastewater or disposal of the wastewater. As an outcome of the consultation it was proposed that Council explore the option of adding highly treated wastewater to the water supply. The Landsborough Sewage Treatment Plant was designed so that. extensive studies could be undertaken to determine if the proposal was feasible and would not compromise any public health issues.

The Queensland Water Recycling Strategy (QWRS) is addressing many health and environmental issues pertaining to sustainable water recycling. Other communities in Queensland will no doubt face many of the issues regarding future water supplies that are being faced by the community in Caloundra City. The QWRS is an initiative established to address issues such as a whole of Government policy on water recycling, limited information on existing water recycling practices, and community and industry confusion surrounding recycling issues. Information gathered by the QWRS will be circulated through the community, as it becomes available

Given that Caloundra City Council has decided to cancel its proposed plan to recycle treated effluent into the drinking water system, and the QWRS is addressing many of the concerns of the local community about this proposal, there is no reason for an inquiry as you have suggested. .........

signed
Rob Whiddon
Chief of Staff

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