Candidates answer water extraction questions

Some Redland City Council election candidates have responded to questions from SIMO about water extraction from North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah).

The SIMO committee sent questions to known Council election candidates asking their views on water security in the Redlands and the potential harm of excessive water extraction to Minjerribah/North Stradbroke Island.

It is disappointing that many candidates did not respond.

SIMO thanks those candidates who took the matter seriously and responded to the questions. Candidates’ responses are published in full, below.

SIMO’s Questions about water extraction

If you are elected (or re-elected), will you commit to endorsing the following: (YES/NO answers please)

1. Building infrastructure so Redlands can be independent of water from Minjerribah. YES/NO

2. Reducing water extraction from Minjerribah now in order to allow the island’s aquifer to recover, particularly since recent rain has topped up mainland water supplies. YES/NO

3. Setting trigger levels for Minjerribah’s aquifer, below which extraction should cease because it would cause environmental harm. YES/NO

4. Completing robust science to determine what is a safe amount of water, if any, to export from Minjerribah. YES/NO

5. In a timely and fully transparent manner, making available to the community water management planning for Minjerribah and the science behind it. YES/NO

6. In deciding when water restrictions are imposed, factoring in the level and trend of Minjerribah’s aquifer. YES/NO

There was a final question, which was “would you like to comment further on water management on Minjerribah and the wider Redlands?”

RESPONSES from mayoral candidates

David Curtin:

Specific questions:

Yes to everything

David’s further comments: ” After the recent widespread drought season across Queensland and the increase in population locally placing a strain on water resources, we need to future proof our region for future crisis of prolonged drought and emergencies. A master plan (30-40 year) needs to be developed to ensure we protect our local supply.

Claire Richardson:

Responses to questions with comments:

” 1. Building infrastructure so Redlands can be independent of water from Minjerribah. We need to be more innovative in our solutions to this problem and consider a number of options that may include the provision of additional infrastructure. For example, an alternate approach to relieving the pressure on the Minjerribah aquifer could be a Council sponsored scheme to allow residents to install rainwater tanks, and making amendments to City Plan such that all new developments are required to install rainwater tanks. We need to consider sustainable solutions, rather than simply relying solely on additional water supply infrastructure.

2. Reducing water extraction from Minjerribah now in order to allow the island’s aquifer to recover, particularly since recent rain has topped up mainland water supplies. As a scientist, in order to respond to this question, factual information on current and historic aquifer levels needs to be provided. If this monitoring data indicates that there is a risk of the aquifer being depleted, then water extraction needs to be reduced to a level that provides for recharge of the aquifer.

3. Setting trigger levels for Minjerribah’s aquifer, below which extraction should cease because it would cause environmental harm. Agreed, and it will be necessary to compile and review historic and current monitoring data to allow the trigger levels to be determined.

4. Completing robust science to determine what is a safe amount of water, if any, to export from Minjerribah. Agreed – it is vital that we have an on-going groundwater monitoring programme to support management of this significant natural resource.

5. In a timely and fully transparent manner, making available to the community water management planning for Minjerribah and the science behind it. Agreed

6. In deciding when water restrictions are imposed, factoring in the level and trend of Minjerribah’s aquifer. Agreed

Would you like to comment further on water management on Minjerribah and the wider Redlands?

The aquifer on Minjerribah is significant both from a cultural and geological perspective. The aquifer is the source of the ‘window’ lakes that occur on Minjerribah, and any depletion of the aquifer has potential to affect the occurrence of these natural water bodies on the surface. The unusual geological and natural features on Minjerribah are of great significance locally and internationally, and it is vitally important that they are preserved for future generations.

In a broader sense, demand for water supplies in Redland City is likely to increase with the corresponding increases in housing in the future. It is important that Council takes the lead in encouraging water conservation and reuse by requiring the installation of rainwater tanks in new developments, providing a low cost scheme for existing residents to install rainwater tanks and by encouraging drought tolerant planting on public and private land.

Karen Williams (incumbent):

Specific questions:

No response

Further comments:

“As pointed out in your email, bulk water is managed by Seqwater and I am on the record as strongly advocating for a more detailed and transparent plan around water extraction from North Stradbroke Island.

With regard to your specific questions, I believe before decisions are made about limiting water extraction etc. we first need Seqwater to engage with the community to update their water extraction plan and then make that plan public.

In August 2018 I held a community consultation session on North Stradbroke Island where water extraction was a major point of discussions.  Following that session I wrote to Seqwater to request:

A full hydrological survey of water supplies on North Stradbroke Island, including all bore fields, Brown Lake (Bummiera), Herring Lagoon and relevant water tables and aquifers these water supplies draw. I further requested the results of this work be provided to Council and the community.

A summary of Seqwater’s regulatory compliance with DNRME water licence surface water and ground water conditions.

Ecological Impact reports and their summaries required by the DNRME water licences.

A review of Seqwater supply plans regarding the amount of water extracted from North Stradbroke Island, with the details of this review to include engagement with the community, including local Traditional Owners who have strong cultural connections to water on the island. Again I requested the detail of the review being provided to the community.

A review of the broader water supply situation in the Redlands, including how much water is taken from the Redlands and how much comes into the Redlands.

I also met with the Minister to explain the importance of water for Minjerribah and the need for the community to be fully engaged about water extraction. At the time Seqwater advised they would be undertaking a 30-year bulk water supply plan for the region, including Redland City by March 2022.

In September last year I held another community engagement session on North Stradbroke Island where again water security was a significant topic of discussion.  Following this meeting I again wrote to Seqwater looking for a commitment from them that any reduction in water consumption across the region would be applied to water being extracted from North Stradbroke Island. Previous correspondence from Seqwater stated that they were only using approximately half of their annual allocation and I wanted to ensure that a reduction in water from other sources did not result in more water being extracted from Minjerribah.

I have heard directly from residents about the importance of understanding water extraction from Minjerribah and I have acted on this feedback through strong advocacy and will continue to do so.

RESPONSES Division 2 (covering Minjerribah/North Stradbroke Island and most of Cleveland)

Irene Henley:

No response

Callen Sorensen Karklis:

Specific questions:

Yes to everything.

Further comments:

On your questions my answer is Yes to everything. 

What we also need to be aware of is that this is not just a council issue on water but also a state issue aligned with SEQ Water. 

The water issues were effected (sic) by the amalgamation of the City Councils during the Beattie/Bligh era. 

If elected I will do all I can to see better management of Straddie water supplies and lobby the state level of government as well as Council on the issue. 

I spoke at length at one of the recent debates on the water issue. 

 

Peter Mitchell. (incumbent):

Specific questions:

No response

Further comments:

I welcome and appreciate your organisation assisting broadcasting the below factual information (in full) to assist Council in better informing the community.

By assisting in this way we can together also unlock ongoing assistance in all necessary advocacy to the State government.

This would help amplify and support your Councillors, Mayor and Councils efforts and results on this matter to date as evidenced below.

It is a fact that South East Qld water, a State government agency, is 100% responsible for the safe and sustainable extraction of water from Minjerribah and elsewhere in the grid, and for those issues of water security in the region.

The responsibility to validate the science, engage with community and communicate the facts in a transparent fashion lie with the State government, and its agency SEQ water.

Council will of course be supportive of this process and also strong advocates that it is done transparently.

Mayor Williams, myself as Div2 Councillor and Council understand this is a very important issue to our community, and have the runs on the board, consistently leading the way for our community, asking SEQ water to engage more effectively and validate the science behind any safe levels of water extraction.

Based on this robust assessment any necessary adjustments or  infrastructure will be determined on a needs basis..

Councils lead work to date was demonstrated by SEQ water being invited by Council to hold a community information session in September 2019 in Amity. This invitation was taken up and was well received and several community groups and many interested individuals took the opportunity to engage with SEQ water directly. I suspect they maintain the direct contact now.

Furthermore Council has again written to SEQ water in November 2019 asking for a commitment to more community engagement in 2020 and the formation of a technical working group to continue important research into sustainability of this resource. I am pleased to report that SEQ water has written back committing to both these initiatives for our community. I attach the letter to this email.

Your interest is important and I would invite you to register your desire to be informed, and lodge questions direct to SEQ water at communications@seqwater.com.au or 1300 737 928.

To further assist, your State government representative is Dr Mark Robinson oodgeroo@parliament.qld.gov.au  34469100 and he may also assist in representing your view and requesting information from this State agency and responsible Minister.

As Councillor I will also continue to take every opportunity to highlight the community interest and concern to the State and SEQ water. We are all in this together.

RESPONSES Division 1 

Wendy Boglary (incumbent):

No response

RESPONSES Division 3 

Paul Golle (incumbent):

No response

Deborah Stone:

No response

RESPONSES Division 4 

Lance Hewlett (incumbent):

No response

RESPONSES Division 5 

Mark Edwards (incumbent):

No response

Juanita Grosvenor:

No response

Ann Hagen:

No response

Hilton Travis:

No response

RESPONSES Division 6 

Julie Talty (incumbent):

No response

Lacey Healey:

No response

RESPONSES Division 7 

Murray Elliott (incumbent):

Specific questions.

No response

Further comments:

thank you for the email ….SEQ water is  the builder and owner of bulk water assets in Queensland and all questions should be directed to them in the first instant…

Rowanne McKenzie:

No response

RESPONSES-Division 8

Tracey Huges (incumbent):

No response

RESPONSES Division 9 

Adelia Berridge:

Sent her apologies for not being able to respond at this time

James Farrell OAM:

Specific questions:

No response

Further comments:

Thanks for your email, and for raising this issue with me.

I’m not in a position to respond to the important issues you’ve raised, given the complexity of the water situation for our community. If I’m elected, I look forward to learning more about these issues, and meeting with SIMO to understand more about the need to ensure our water supply is secure, sustainable and meets our community’s needs.

Thanks again for raising this issue.

Paul Gleeson (incumbent):

No response

Allison Wicks:

No response

RESPONSES Division 10 

Paul Bishop (incumbent):

No response

 

This article was compiled from the original material provided by candidates at the 2020 local government election and written by the management committee of Stradbroke Island Management Organisation (SIMO).

 

Redlands2030 – 24 March 2020