 |
|
||
| Taps
on for new Bulk Water Authority
The
State Government has announced the name for south east Queensland’s (SEQ) new
single statutory bulk water authority which will commence operations on 1
January 2013.
Minister
for Energy and Water Supply Mark McArdle said “Seqwater” had been chosen for
its cost-efficiencies and ease of transition for the new entity, its
customers and suppliers.
“Seqwater
will replace three former water authorities, LinkWater, the South East
Queensland Water Grid Manager and the former Seqwater,” Mr McArdle said.
“The
Queensland Water Commission (QWC) will also be abolished on 31 December 2012.
“The new
Seqwater, which will be staffed by committed and trained professionals, will
commence operations on 1 January 2013 with a commitment to excellence in
service delivery and catchment management at the lowest possible cost.
“Legislation
covering Seqwater’s operations is in place, and between now and New Year’s
Day, the necessary administrative changes will be finalised to wind up the
existing entities and transfer responsibility to Seqwater.”
Mr
McArdle said Seqwater would focus on creating a safe, reliable, sustainable
and lowest cost possible water supply that met the needs of SEQ’s three
million water users.
“Amalgamating
the former entities and abolishing the QWC to form a single bulk water supply
authority servicing SEQ will reduce board and executive costs and enable the
new business to rationalise administrative and corporate costs,” he said.
“Creating
the new Seqwater delivers on the Government’s election commitment to simplify
the complex, costly bulk water supply sector and reduce cost of living
increases pressures for SEQ households.”
Mr
McArdle said the new Seqwater had a charter to deliver effective planning and
efficient infrastructure.
“Seqwater
will deliver the Government’s vision to plan properly for south east
Queensland’s future water needs and in early 2013 will develop its corporate
strategy and plan setting out its objectives and priorities and their
expected outcomes,” he said.
“Cutting
duplication and creating a single, more streamlined water authority will
result in improved planning and efficiencies for the state’s future water
needs.
“This
will ultimately translate into less upward pressure on water prices, which
will benefit Queensland families who have battled rising water charges for
several years.”
21 December 2012 COMMENT: Who will be the CEO of the new Seqwater? Will it be the current CEO Peter Borrows who was in charge during the disastrous Brisbane River flood of 11-12 January 2011? |
|||
21 December 2012
The new Seqwater can't be any worse than the old Seqwater
