Below is a Media Release that may be of interest to people;
Emergency powers to deal with water supply crisis
The State Government now has increased powers to deal with any future water crisis in Queensland after amendments to Queensland's Water Act were passed by State Parliament tonight.
Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Henry Palaszczuk said Queensland now has emergency powers to deal with any serious risk to Queensland's essential water supply needs.
"Until now the State has not had the power to respond or coordinate a response to a water supply emergency because the responsibility and accountability for managing water supplies has rested with the service providers," Mr Palaszczuk said.
"The latest amendments will ensure the State can respond to a water supply emergency such as severe extended drought, failure of large water supply infrastructure such as water treatment plants, or contamination of a water storage used for essential water supply needs.
"The amendments set out a clear process for declaring a water supply emergency; what actions or measures a service provider can be directed to carry out; and how a water supply emergency ends.
"The State Government must consult with any parties that will be directed under the emergency powers prior to making an emergency declaration.
"Where short-term action - such as the imposition of water restrictions
- is required, the Minister may prepare a water supply emergency declaration.
"Otherwise, where long-term action - such as the construction of additional infrastructure - is required, a water supply emergency regulation may be made.
The new legislation allows the State to direct a water service provider to take action to deal with a water supply emergency.
"This could include constructing new infrastructure, fast tracking major maintenance programs to reduce water losses, implementing demand management programs or implementing water restrictions," Mr Palaszczuk said.
Mr Palaszczuk said the new provisions would allow the water service provider to recover from customers investment costs incurred from carrying out emergency activities.
"This will ensure the water service provider's financial viability is not compromised as a result of having to comply with a water supply emergency declaration relating to emergency water supplies," Mr Palaszczuk said.
"The amendments also set out a clear process for applying for compensation for loss incurred as a result of complying with a water supply emergency direction.
"An application for compensation may be made if a person has suffered loss or damage as a result of a water service provider complying with a water supply emergency declaration or regulation."
Mr Palaszczuk said that another amendment passed today meant service providers may specifically restrict the volume of water 'taken by' a customer or type of customer.
"This would allow restrictions to be applied to industrial or commercial customers to better facilitate local management of drought by applying equitable restrictions to both residential and industrial customers," Mr Palaszczuk said.
Media contact: John Algate 3896 3689 or 0418 197 350
