Despite Mount Isa’s geographical location and climate, the city is enjoying an enviable water situation at present, particularly in light of the crisis the South East Queensland region, and many other regions across Australia, are facing. It certainly could be better but, equally, it could be worse; and it would be a lot worse if Mount Isa City Council had not identified water use as an issue that would have an impact on the city’s future sustainability a number of years ago.
In the early 1990s, Council recognised the need to put greater value on our water and introduced water restrictions based on odd and even days use and limited sprinkler hours. We also reduced the allocation of 1400KL per year to 1000KL. Now residents take the allocation and the water restrictions for granted and Mount Isa is reaping the rewards of what must, in today’s world, be regarded as a visionary outcome.
Local Government is about planning for the future and making decisions based on information and experience. It is about having the courage to make the tough, and sometimes unpopular, decisions and, while including the community in the decision making process, ultimately making the best decision for the city’s future.
