State Government Set to Ease South East Queensland Water Restrictions
Date: 29-Jun-2017
The Courier Mail has reported today that residents of the southeast will have water restrictions eased or completely removed as the government moves to pay down its debts and deliver election pledges to reduce water bills to ease cost of living pressures.
“Treasury officials are understood to be looking at shuffling some $3 billion of debt off the existing water utilities and on to the Government's books.
The new water super supplier, to be set up in January and running by July, would then be debt free. Without debt to service, it would have enough capital to allow water prices to drop and encourage increased consumer use of water.
A spokesman for Treasurer Tim Nicholls said the Government was "yet to decide on a change to the capital structure of the new entity." He insisted the merger would bring "greater efficiencies in terms of water distribution and reduce water bills for residents of southeast Queensland"....
Water Minister Mark McArdle said the Government was "not suggesting water is anything but a precious commodity".
"People have had a responsible attitude to the use of water for a number of years. I believe that common sense will continue into the future," Mr McArdle said.
The full story is available here.
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