[Greens-Media] MARK PARNELL MLC: Scrap water restrictions, go for household allocation instead

[Parnell]

Media Release
Wednesday 26th November, 2008

Scrap water restrictions, go for household allocation instead

	
 
Greens MLC Mark Parnell has moved a motion in State Parliament calling for domestic water restrictions to be scrapped, and replaced with a water allocation that allows householders to choose where and how they use their water.

"The current system is deeply unfair.  Taps can flow indoors 24/7, but people are banned from watering their garden except for a few hours a week.  Whether it's outdoors and indoors, it's still the same water. Surely we should be focusing on how much water people use, rather than where or how they use it," Greens MLC Mark Parnell said.

"It should be up to individuals, not SA Water, to choose their water priorities.  Some people will willingly take a shorter shower to allow more for their vegies.  Others will be happy to let their garden go in return for more flexibility indoors.   Why should SA Water be making that choice?  

"We need an approach that rewards those who are doing the right thing.  The current system is confusing and unfair.  As a consequence many people don't know or don't care about sticking to the rules," he said.

Under the Greens system:

§         Households will initially be given a water allocation based on an assumed number of residents, with all households able to apply for higher volumes (eg for extra residents).  

§         Meters will be read quarterly, and the allocation averaged over the year, allowing greater use in summer, and less in winter. 

§         A major campaign will inform residents how to keep track of their water use and extra help will be given to keep households within their allocation. 

§         If households consistently go well over their allocation, water advisers will be sent to the home to check and fix leaks, implement water efficiency improvements and provide help to reduce water consumption. 

"We shouldn't have to rely on dobbing in a neighbour as a water enforcement strategy.  When people go over their allocation we should be sending around a plumber, not a policeman.   We need to target the small number of water users who are super wasteful without punishing the vast majority who try to do the right thing.

"In the face of a long hot summer, and big doubts over the capacity of the River Murray to keep on supplying us with decent water, we need to get serious about using our water more wisely.  Giving control over water use back to the people and allowing them to choose what works best for them is a sensible place to start," he said.

 

	
For further comment contact Craig Wilkins on 0434 007 893



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