Toowoomba Regional Council, Queensland, has placed long term water security at the top of the agenda, voting in favour of seeking interest from neighbouring councils, to form a Water Alliance.
Mayor, Paul Antonio said Council would work to form a Water Alliance that would include, but was not limited to, Southern Downs, Western Downs and Toowoomba Regional councils, and Tenterfield Shire Council.
“We currently have an informal partnership with the Southern Downs, Western Downs and Tenterfield councils which was first initiated to discuss long term water security options that would benefit the areas which the group collectively represents.
“While the partnership has allowed us to discuss water security in general, to ensure that we’re able to effectively advocate to other levels of government, it’s important we formalise this pre-existing relationship.
“There is no doubt long term water security is the highest priority for us right now.
“A formal ‘Water Alliance’ would allow us to advocate for a collective vision on water security for not only residential water use, but for agriculture, commercial, industry and all water use.
“While residents connected to the Toowoomba Water Bulk Supply have added water security through the pipeline that connects us to Wivenhoe [Dam], the reality is that this isn’t the long term solution for our entire region.
“We have several towns doing it extremely tough and our council isn’t alone in this position.”
A cross-collaboration approach to water security by a group of councils in the same boat, would hold more weight with the State and Federal governments than an individual council, the Mayor said.
“We have far more power when we work collectively rather than alone.”
