Check out the Newman Government's Four Point Water Plan at the end of the media release.
As I have noted before:
The four point plan has been on the LNP website from the beginning of the election campaign.
Point 2, 3 and 4 have no net impacts on the price of water.
2) Hand back control of water distribution and retailing to councils who previously did a far better job of managing water resources than the Bligh Government;
As it turns out the Councils already have control of water distribution and retailing (via Council owned Utilities).
Minister for Energy and Water Supply
The Honourable Mark McArdle
The Honourable Mark McArdle
Friday, April 13, 2012
Media Release - Government to Review Bulk Water Prices Immediately
Energy and Water Supply
The Honourable Mark McArdle
The Honourable Mark McArdle
Friday, April 13, 2012
Government to Review Bulk Water Prices Immediately
The State Government will immediately review South East Queensland (SEQ) bulk water prices, with options for a new price path to be brought back to Cabinet by 31 May 2012.
The review, determined after Cabinet consideration this week, will be undertaken by the Queensland Water Commission (QWC) and Treasury as part of the Newman Government’s commitment to lowering the cost of living for families in SEQ.
Minister for Energy and Water Supply, Mark McArdle, said he had contacted water corporations including Unitywater and Queensland Urban Utilities, and Redland, Gold Coast and Logan councils to inform them of the review.
“It’s very clear that the cost of living in Queensland has skyrocketed under the previous Bligh Labor Government,” Mr McArdle said.
In 2008 the previous Government endorsed a 10 year bulk water price path for 2008/09 to 2017/18 for the SEQ Water Grid, with bulk price increases set so that all councils and entities could reach a common “destination” price by the end of the price path in 2017/18.
Mr McArdle said the Bligh Government had left SEQ families a parting financial blow.
“We know Labor’s legacy has created a significant financial impact on families,” Mr McArdle said.
“That is why we have immediately moved to undertake this review with options for a new price path to be brought back to Cabinet very soon.”
The Newman Government committed to a Lower Cost of Living for Families Package prior to the election which included reducing the cost of water for families in SEQ through its Four Point Water Plan:
1) Amalgamate the four bulk water entities into one entity to reduce the cost of supplying water;
2) Hand back control of water distribution and retailing to councils who previously did a far better job of managing water resources than the Bligh Government;
3) Write off non-performing water grid assets to reduce sharp price rises.
4) Adopt a 40 year price path to repay the Bligh Government's $7 billion water grid debt over the economic life of the assets, which will also reduce the cost of water.
Media contact: Michelle French, Media Advisor - 3896 3690
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