[Greens-Media] Media Release: Flegg should follow his leader on water recycling

[Qld Greens Media]

*Media Release*
*Flegg should follow his leader on water recycling*

The Queensland Greens call on Dr Flegg to follow his federal leader and 
commit to water saving, instead of supporting the National’s proposal 
for four new dams.
“The Prime Minister’s comments yesterday that Australia should be 
recycling water and capturing stormwater are a more economically 
sensible and environmentally friendly approach to solving the water 
crisis,” said environmental lawyer and Queensland Greens Brisbane 
Central Candidate Larissa Waters.

“Mr Beattie should similarly take a leaf out of federal Labor’s book and 
commit Queensland to a national water recycling target of 30%.
“Instead, all we are hearing from the Queensland old parties are dams, 
dams, and energy guzzling desalination, with the odd token measly 
subsidy for water saving devices in a small proportion of homes.
“The National's proposal for four new dams is as ill thought out as 
Beattie's raft of dam proposals. For a start, none of the water from any 
of these expensive proposed dams will be available before level-five 
water restrictions come in, which SEQWater has predicted will be early 
next year without significant rain.
“Mr Springborg also includes Nathan Dam on his list – but this proposal 
has been held up by the federal government for years because it is 
likely to damage the Great Barrier Reef.
“The Greens would protect the Reef and our freshwater ecosystems and 
instead mandate subsidies for household water saving devices like grey 
water treatment plants, and water recycling for SEQ - for industry and 
for drinking.
“The old parties must scrap their unaffordable, environmentally 
damaging, and socially disruptive dam-building frenzy. The Greens offer 
simpler, cheaper, greener and community friendly proposals to 
drought-proof Queensland,” said Ms Waters.

She said the Greens were committed to stopping the Mary and Logan River 
dams and implementing other solutions to solve the water crisis such as 
reducing water waste, mandating rainwater tanks on all new and renovated 
houses, and offering greater rebates for tanks, grey water treatment 
systems and water saving appliances in existing homes.
For further information contact:

*Larissa Waters, Candidate for Brisbane Central - 0421 844 280, *

*email: *_brisbane-central at qld.greens.org.au 
<mailto:brisbane-central at qld.greens.org.au>_

-- 
www.qld.greens.org.au

State election Spokesperson. Juanita Wheeler 0402 487 110

Queensland Greens media spokespeople.

Climate Change and Indigenous. Drew Hutton 0428 487 110
Human Rights and Environment. Juanita Wheeler 0402 487 110
Transport and Planning. Greg George 0424 725 719

Queensland Greens campaign coordinator.
Ian Gittus 0422 542 370

Office 3846 0862
fax 3844 4654

www.qld.greens.org.au