Maintenance of water infrastructure assets

  Invitation to make a submission to an inquiry into the Queensland Audit Office Report to Parliament 14 for 2012-13: Maintenance of water infrastructure assets

The State Development, Infrastructure and Industry Committee is inquiring into the Queensland Audit Office Report to Parliament 14 for 2012-13: Maintenance of water infrastructure assets and will report to Parliament on its findings.

The committee invites you to make a submission having regard to the inquiry terms of reference. The terms of reference for the inquiry are:

·         examine the issues contained in the Queensland Audit Office Report to Parliament 14 for 2012-13: Maintenance of water infrastructure assets

·         consider the value for money of manufactured water infrastructure assets

·         operating and maintenance costs of manufactured water infrastructure assets

·         innovative strategies to increase revenue from manufactured water infrastructure assets

·         the future public value of the assets including consideration of the impact on the community, economy and environment

·         consider the policy framework for decisions to invest in significant bulk water supply infrastructure, or to upgrade current infrastructure.

Submissions close at 5.00pm on Friday, 25 October 2013.

Mothballing purified recycled water

After recent floods in Brisbane in 2011 and 2013, it would appear we (collectively) have forgotten the Millennium drought from 2002-2009.

The Bundamba Advanced Water Treatment Plant (AWTP) located in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia is to be mothballed. 

The AWTP, built as part of the Western Corridor Recycled Water Project (WCRW) to solve the water scarcity problem in south-east Queensland, has never been used for its intended purpose.

Built at a cost of $380m, the plant can produce 66 ML/day of treated water, from tertiary treated sewage treatment plant effluent.

The purified recycled water produced by the plant is of very high quality and could be safely used directly or indirectly as potable water.  

Construction of the plant started in September 2006 and was carried out in two stages - Stage 1A and Stage 1B. Stage 1A was completed in August 2007 and Stage 1B in March 2008. The plant became fully operational in June 2008 but has never run at full capacity.

During the Millennium drought (2002-2009) it produced water to provide security of supply and operation for Tarong and Swanbank power stations.  However, there are not sufficient demands for high quality (relatively expensive) purified water to match the capabilities of the AWTP (apart from potable reuse).

The plant is not only capable of purifying sewage effluent but the back end of the plant includes technologies that remove nutrients and pollutants from the effluent (that are otherwise discharged to our Rivers and Moreton Bay).

Continuous microfiltration, reverse osmosis, advanced oxidation processes are quite energy intense, but the AWTP certainly a cheaper and more efficient process than seawater desalination.

In 2011, Seqwater released the third Water Quality Report for the Bundamba Advanced Water Treatment Plant, with results confirming the excellent quality of purified water it produces and proving the water is safe to add to the drinking supply.

More than 27 000 water quality tests were conducted in this reporting period from July 2010 to June 2011, taking the total amount of tests now performed to more than 92 100. The tests showed the treatment process was 100% effective in removing contaminants present in the inflowing water as prescribed by the relevant guidelines.

These results confirm the findings of the previous water quality reports and prove we can be confident that when we need to add purified water to Wivenhoe Dam it will be safe to drink.

The Independent International Expert Scientific Advisory Panel reviewed the results and Panel Chair, Paul Greenfield said the panel had “concluded the treatment process barriers are able to control any water quality hazards and produce purified recycled water suitable to augment a drinking water supply”.

my submission to the Qld Water Strategy

The following is my submission to the community consultation on the Qld Water Strategy, which closes on 29 March 2013, 11.59pm

Queensland's water sector: a 30-year strategy discussion paper


Department of Energy and Water Supply

PO Box 15456

City East Qld 4002



To whom it may concern,





Please find follow a few brief comments addressing the 30 year water strategy discussion paper.



Over the next 30 years, it is increasing likely that rainfall will become more variable and more intense. We are likely to see greater extremes of droughts and flooding rains.



I am concerned about the emphasis in the strategy on "lowest cost". I would like to see a greater emphasis on best value.



There are opportunities for integration of water management that could lead to lower costs.

There is a wholesale move by the Qld State Government towards "light handed" regulation. While I understand the rationale, I am not entirely confident that environmental and public health values can be protected with "light handed" regulation.



That said, I would like to see more demonstration projects and research around new and innovative ways to obtain and deliver water supplies and sewage/trade waste collection and treatment.



The current institutional arrangements for water supply and sewage collection and treatment is not ideal.



I would like to see more vertical integration.



The water sector is currently split horizontally (particularly in SE Qld) along the same lines as the electricity industry into generators and retail/distributors.



This model does not lend itself to integrated water management, across water catchments. In many cases local councils are in a better position to manage the integrated water cycle. Storm water is often neglected as a source of useful water, particularly for industrial reuse, cooling water, irrigation water etc.



I would like to see the retention of the integrity of the regulatory framework (e.g. drinking water quality, environmental protection, public health) while reducing the regulatory burden, by making regulation less prescriptive and move towards performance based or outcome based regulation.



I think water/sewage quality regulation needs to focus on setting criteria that are "fit for purpose".



Self regulation is appropriate when water and sewage treatment plants are run by public sector utilities. I would be very concerned if self regulation applied to private sector (for-profit) utilities.



I think it is entirely appropriate that numerous government departments regulate or have an interest in water and sewerage services including DEWS, Environment, health, natural resources etc.



I think the water business would benefit from geographical catchment based water utilities. In some cases that might been amalgamation of small regional (council utilities). In SEQ, that might mean de-amalgamation of Qld Urban Utilities and Unity Water. Water Utilities should mange the entire water cycle including water supply, stormwater, sewage, trade waste and water recycling.



During the millennium drought (2002-2009), the western corridor water recycling scheme was established. This scheme has never been commissioned for indirect potable re-use.



There would be many benefits from treating sewage effluent for potable reuse.



The advanced water treatment plant at Bundamba could also improve the quality of the effluent that is currently being discharged to the natural environment.



If purified recycled water was used for potable supplies, one would not have to retain so much water in dams. The dams could be operated with lower storage levels and provide greater capacity for flood mitigation.



In terms of innovation, I would like to see the Qld water industry participate in more local projects, to demonstrate the next generation of toilet technologies. As a developed nation, I would like to see us invest in developing technologies that have global implications.



There are 2.4 billion people in the world who lack access to a designated sustainable place to poo. A billion of those people live in Asia/Pacific.



There are a billion people in the world who lack access to adequate drinking water supplies.



The Qld water industry could be developing technologies and service delivery models that meet our own needs. The same technologies may help those in developing communities.



Thank you for the opportunity to participate in the consultation for the 30 year water strategy.



regards,



Rowan Barber      

30 year plan for Queensland’s water sector

My letter to the Minister for Energy and Water......

The Honourable Mark McArdle

Minister for Energy and Water

cc: The Premier, Mark Pascoe (CEO - International Water Centre), Robert Cavallucci (Member for Brisbane Central)

Dear Mr McArdle,

At the AWA Water Association Awards and Gala dinner recently, you announced that the Qld Government will “Release a discussion paper for a 30 year plan for Queensland’s water sector".

Over dinner, this led to a discussion about: "what are the issues that the Qld Government should discuss?" 

We (as a society) have to get better at dealing with an integrated water cycle with a comprehensive (holistic) approach to managing water supplies, irrigation, sewage treatment and managing stormwater.

Our current institutional arrangements do not lend themselves to an integrated approach.

Our centralised water distribution and sewerage networks are very vulnerable to extreme weather events and heavily reliant on energy intense treatment and transport.

In framing a 30 year plan for the Water Sector, I would like to see the Qld Government and the Water industry respond to the causes and impacts of climate change.

The causes of climate change, obviously include generation of greenhouse gas emissions (directly and indirectly).

The impacts include a greater intensity and variability of rainfall events. 

 I am interested in seeing more mileage for Sustainable sewage transport and treatment as part of the 30 year plan.

Sustainable sewage (also known as Productive Sanitation) might include source segregation of urine, faeces and trade waste with more emphasis on resource recovery and reuse.

I am looking forward to the release the discussion paper for a 30 year plan for Queensland’s water sector and participating in the discussion.

regards,

Rowan Barber

water efficiency

One can be proud of the fact that we (as a society) made some wholesale behavioural changes and achieved a permanent reduction in water consumption (and wastewater generation).

The newly elected Qld Government is reviewing red tape and promising to reduce the cost of water for consumers.

Within the next 76 days the LNP Government proposes to appoint the Gasfields land and water Commissioner to better oversee the relationship between rural landholders and the CSG industry. At the same time, the Qld Government shall start processes to amalgamate bulk water entities as part of their Four point plan to reduce water prices.

The future of the Queensland Water Commission (QWC) is under a shadow. The regulation and legislation for home and business water efficiency may be revoked by the new Qld Government in an attempt to be seen to be cutting Red Tape. The QWC is an independent, statutory authority established by the previous Qld Government. The QWC is (or was) responsible for achieving safe, secure and sustainable water supplies in South East Queensland and other designated regions.

The draft Position Paper – The Case for Water Efficiency - has been developed by members of the Australian Water Association (AWA) Water Efficiency Specialist Network Committee to advocate for the continued role of water efficient policies and practices in Australia’s future urban water supply and demand management.

The Position Paper makes the argument that water efficiency is a necessary and effective way of maintaining a secure water supply into the future and should be a high priority in a suite of measures to achieve water security.

The case for water efficiency, will be presented and discussed at the AWA’s Ozwater'12 Water Efficiency workshop The Future Role of Water Efficiency in Australia: Developing and Promoting a Common Approach.

The LNP Government is making plans to write down or write off (so-called) non-performing water grid assets.

There does not appear to be any appetite in the LNP for commissioning the Western Corridor water purification scheme for the purpose it was designed and constructed.

Draft Sustainable Business Weekly - Qld Edition

A State of Flux

Environmental Law in Qld (& Australia is in a tremendous State of flux.

This week, the Qld Government had its first Cabinet meeting, since the recent State elections.

The newly elected Premier of Qld: Mr Campbell Newman was also in Canberra this week meeting with in the lead up to a meeting of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG).. One of the topics of discussion was the reduction of Environmental Regulation.

Green Tape

The Federal Government hosted discussions with the COAG Business Advisory Forum in Canberra with alleged business Leaders & State Governments.

The red (& green) tape reduction reform process was a key topic of the inaugural meeting.

State & territory governments would get a bigger say in environmental approvals to fast-track major projects under a deal to go to the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) this week.

The commonwealth will retain responsibility for World Heritage and "high-risk projects". Currently any company proposing a major development such as a mine, port, rail line or tourist project must meet state & federal environmental rules, which can tie up the project for years.

The former Qld Government’s Green Tape Reduction program has been sent back to square one. The newly elected Government is setting out to “streamline environmental protections”

Mr Newman said the new Queensland position was one of “competitive federalism” but again no one seems to know what the implications are for Environment Protection.

Premier Campbell Newman has rejected suggestions that widening the gap between regulatory systems in different states would actually make it more expensive for businesses to operate across borders.

While the Premier supports a harmonised approach to various forms of regulation, he is advocating that Qld stand up & decide to out-compete other states.

As for cutting "green tape", Mr Newman believed discussions in the pre-COAG business forum did not go far enough.

The Premier wants the Federal Government to delegate the powers of the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act to the states.

He complained that the Federal Government kept "coming over the top" of the Queensland Government to delay major resource and tourism projects.

Carbon Tax - High Court Challenge

Mr Newman is seeking legal advice on whether it can fight the carbon tax as unconstitutional.

He expects to get that in the next few weeks. He had spoken to at least one other premier about possibly joining together in a High Court challenge.

Mr Newman said Cabinet also looked at some options to address the issue of high electricity costs for Queenslanders.

As a first action, the LNP government will legislate to ensure carbon tax costs can be displayed on Queenslanders’ electricity bills by 1 July to coincide with the introduction of the Carbon Tax.

Repealing the Waste Levy

Repealing the former Qld Government’s Waste levy was on the agenda of the first Cabinet Meeting of the new Government.

The Waste Levy introduced in December 2011 is being repealed by 1 July 2012 as part of the action plan to deliver the LNP’s Lower Cost of Living for Families Package for Queenslanders.

Premier Campbell Newman said cost of living in Queensland had skyrocketed under Labor and the LNP Government’s focus was to act immediately to start addressing cost of living issues.

Campbell Newman described the former Government’s waste levy, as a huge slug on businesses, families & councils.

His Government will be looking at alternative funding streams to deliver an industry driven waste strategy as part of the budget process.

Bulk Water Prices

Following Cabinet consideration, the Queensland Water Commission & Treasury have been asked for an accelerated review of bulk water prices, with options for a new price path to be brought back to Cabinet by 31 May 2012.

Gladstone Harbour

Gladstone Harbour seems to be the test case for the new Qld State Government’s approach to Environmental regulation in Qld.

Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney expressed his desire to annex Gladstone Harbour from the Great Barrier Reef marine Park.

CanDo's Cost Cuts

The following press release from the PremierThe Honourable Campbell Newman was sent out yesterday.


First Newman Government Cabinet Meeting focusses on cost of living savings

The focus of today’s first Newman Government Cabinet Meeting was action to deliver the LNP’s Lower Cost of Living for Families Package for Queenslanders.

Premier Campbell Newman said cost of living in Queensland had skyrocketed under Labor and the LNP Government’s focus was to act immediately to start addressing cost of living issues.

Premier Campbell Newman said at today’s meeting, Cabinet had resolved to move forward with regulation to freeze private motor vehicle registration for three years from 1 July 2012.

“Cabinet also formally approved the reinstatement of the principal place of residence stamp duty concession from 1 July 2012, which will save Queenslanders up to $7,000 when they purchase an average family home,” Mr Newman said.

Mr Newman said Cabinet approved plans to halve the previous Labor Government’s scheduled fare increases in 2013 and 2014 to 7.5 per cent, and to implement a new weekly nine journey cap on the go card, so the 10th journey and any additional journey a commuter takes each week will be free commencing 1 July.

“By making these changes, we are delivering real public transport and cost of living savings for Queenslanders,” Mr Newman said.

“Cabinet also resolved to remove Labor’s flawed waste levy, which was a huge slug on businesses, families and councils - and we will be looking at alternative funding streams to deliver an industry driven waste strategy as part of the budget process.”

Mr Newman said Cabinet also looked at some options to address the issue of high electricity costs for Queenslanders.

“As a first action, the LNP government will legislate to ensure carbon tax costs can be displayed on Queenslanders’ electricity bills by 1 July to coincide with the introduction of the Carbon Tax,” Mr Newman said.

“That means people will get to see the real cost of the Carbon Tax on their electricity bills.”
Following Cabinet consideration today, the Queensland Water Commission and Treasury will also deliver an accelerated review of bulk water prices, with options for a new price path to be brought back to Cabinet by 31 May 2012.

The Newman Government committed to a Lower Cost of Living for Families Package prior to the election, which included:
· Freezing or lowering the standard domestic electricity tariff and showing the cost of the Commonwealth’s carbon tax on electricity bills;
· Reducing the cost of water for families in South East Queensland;
· Freezing family car registration fees for the next three years;
· Halving the two scheduled increases in public transport fares and making the 10th and any additional journey each week on the go card free;
· Abolishing the waste levy from 1 July 2012;
· Re-introducing transfer duty concessions for the principal place of residence.

10 April 2012 Media Contact: Kylie Jacobson 0419 850 223

why are we walking for water (& sanitation)

Some friends & acquaintances are attempting to organise a Walk.

They are trying to plan a route to or from a place of political significance or media interest in Brisbane. The folks who enforce the Peaceful Assembly Act 1992 at Brisbane City Council are making this nigh impossible.

They are trying gather friends, high-profile supporters and politicians to join the walk........and they need your help.

The tentative date for the alleged Brisbane Walks For Water is Friday the 23 March, 2012 at noon (12:00 gmt +10).

They shall rendezvous at Reddacliffe Place and march around the CBD if they can get permission to do so.

They don't have public liability insurance. They have not filled out countless forms or got all the necessary approvals. They just want to organise a walk. How hard can it be?

It is a walk for water & sanitation.

Why is the world walking for water and sanitation in March 2012?

Do you even know what the hell sanitation is?

Let's start with some statistics:

• One in eight people in the world do not have access to safe drinking water.
• One in three people don’t have access to a private clean toilet.

Women and children walk on average six kilometres every day to fetch water for their basic needs. They often walk to unprotected water sources, such as rivers or muddy dugouts, and the average weight of water they carry is 20kg. ( UNDP, Human Development Report, 2006)

2.6 billion people still live without a clean and safe toilet ( UNICEF/WHO Joint Monitoring Report, 2010). Instead, they have only a roadside, bucket or plastic bag to use. This is humiliating and also often leads to water contamination and the spreading of diarrhoeal diseases such as dysentery and cholera.

Women and girls are especially affected by poor sanitation access. They risk being sexually assaulted when using latrines in remote locations or walking to fields to defecate.

4,000 children die every day from diarrhoea caused by unclean water and unsafe sanitation ( WHO, Safer Water, Better Health, 2008).

Diarrhoeal diseases are the biggest killer of young children in Africa, killing

more than HIV/AIDS, malaria and measles combined.

This lack of access to clean water and sanitation impacts severely on health, education and income.

It’s time for change. We are not talking about a change of Government.

The World Walks for Water and Sanitation 2012 is a global event taking place around World Water Day, from 17-25 March 2012. Thousands of people across the world will walk together to demand an end to the water and sanitation crisis. The walks will build on the success of the World’s Longest Toilet Queue in 2010 and the World Walks for Water campaign in 2011. Last year, over 350,000 people in more than 75 different countries walked together to demand that politicians keep their promises and step up their efforts to protect the right to sanitation and water for all.

Because of these global actions, governments are beginning to take notice, promises have

been made, and there has been progress both internationally and within countries. This has

encouraged hundreds of organisations and thousands of people to come together again

in 2012 and keep up the pressure!

In April 2012, world leaders will attend the second High-Level Meeting (HLM) of the Sanitation and Water for All partnership in Washington D.C. It is really important that your Development or Finance Minister attends this meeting. You can take the opportunity of your walk to invite them to attend and demand that real progress and firm actions are delivered upon.

Sustainable Business Weekly Qld Edition [the water blame game]

In the course of the Millenium drought (2002-2009), the Labor Government spent $7b on a water grid & water purification & recycling infrastructure.

This infrastructure included the Bundamba Advanced Water Treatment Plant, designed to produce "Purified Recycled" Water from tertiary treated sewage effluent.

Currently, the Bundamba Advanced Water Treatment Plant provides a little bit of water to local industry, Swanbank Power Station and Springfield township. During the Drought it also supplied water to Tarong Power Station. Since 2011, Tarong has water to spare from its own catchment.

Neither the ALP or the LNP have any plans to utilise the idle water recycling infrastructure & stop the Councils or Council owned Utilities from discharging sewage effluent into the Rivers & Moreton Bay.

It is cheaper, more environmentally sound & climate friendly to recycle waste water than it is to desalinate sea water.

In the process of recycling water, one could recover the nutrients (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, etc....) that are currently polluting the waterways. These nutrients could be used beneficially in agriculture.

In the light of this, let us have a closer look at the Liberal National Party's Water Policy. The LNP claim that Queenslanders are facing spiraling costs of living and family budgets are under severe strain because Labor can't get the basics right. The LNP Claim that there is no forward planning, Perhaps they have not read the South East Qld Water Strategy ....or perhaps they have, since the LNP Strategy looks very similar.

The South East Queensland Water Strategy was released on 15 July 2010. The Strategy is a long-term blueprint for ensuring a sustainable, efficient and secure water supply for South East Queensland (SEQ) into the future.

Granted there were some panic decisions by the Qld State Labor Government caused the South East Queensland Water Grid to be undertaken without adequate planning.

The water grid itself was never a great idea but given the circumstances (Water Supply Dams running empty), it was part of the policy of being seen to be doing something.....

To be fair much of the planning for the Western Corridor water recycling scheme was undertaken by Ipswich Water and adopted by the State Government in a knee jerk response to 7 years of consecutive drought.

This led to the a $7 billion price tag for the Water Grid....At least $600 million was wasted on the failed Traveston Crossing Dam (there is no argument with that).

The $1.1 billion for the Tugun desalination plant was probably money well spent. Desalination is an expensive option but it does provide SEQ with a level of water security that a dam cannot ensure. All other capital cities have gone for similar options.

Another $350 million Wyaralong Dam is not connected to the water grid.

There is no basis for the LNP's claim that South-East Queensland water bills are set to double over the next seven years. Prices have been capped to a maximum rise linked to the Consumer Price Index.

In fact: In the last 18 months, Queensland Urban Utilities reduced prices in four of their five service territories and improved network performance.

Under pressure from the LNP & Gold Coast City Council, Labor allowed Gold Coast City to have its water retail & distribution business separated from Allconnex (Discinnex?), leaving Redlands & Logan to go it alone as well.

The LNP's plan for the future looks much the same as the existing SEQ Water Strategy....

So let's have a look at the LNP is committed to:

• LNP Policy Commitment:
• * Plan properly for Queensland's future water needs and creating a sustainable water supply that caters for population increases and meets the needs of households, industry and agriculture; and
• * Increasing efficiency in water delivery from the grid to the household, while maintaining a responsible approach to water use and waste.

This looks a lot like the SEQ Water Strategy:

Conserving water

• Making Target 200 SEQ's voluntary residential water use target.
• Ensuring business and industry consider water efficiency as part of good business practices.

Being prepared

• Investigating potential bulk water supply options and new technologies relating to water supply sources to ensure the best decisions are made in the future.
• Preparing a drought response plan for SEQ to identify what needs to happen in the lead up to, during and after any future drought in the region.
• Reporting on the implementation of the Strategy annually, including a review of the fundamental planning assumptions such as climate and weather impacts, population growth and community water use.

Managing water efficiently

• Operating the SEQ Water Grid cost effectively and efficiently.
• Keeping climate-resilient sources on standby so more can be taken from dams in times of plenty, knowing back-up supplies are available when needed.

To date, the LNP has committed to:

The Four Point Water Plan:

• 1. Amalgamate the four bulk water entities into one entity to reduce the cost of supplying water (this is probably a great deal of sense in this point);
• 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 - one way or another control of water distribution & retailing is already handled directly by Councils or by Council owned Utilities);
• 3. Write off non-performing water grid assets to reduce sharp price rises (is an accounting slight of hand, that make no real difference to water & sewage pricing);
• 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 (just postpones the inevitable costs to future generations, as a political expedience).

None of the above will have significant impacts on the bulk cost of water or retail price of water.