The Region's three dams may be near capacity but that hasn't stopped Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) from thinking long-term with Water Vision 2071.
TRC Water and Waste Committee Chair Cr Rebecca Vonhoff said the document provided options on how Council would ensure the Region had water security for the next 50 years.
"It's important we don't become complacent after filling our dams. Now is the time to think long-term strategies to protect our water assets for years to come," she said.
"Water Vision 2071 is an extension of a previous document we adopted that takes into account a number of factors including our Region's growth and addresses key challenges we're likely to face in the coming years.
"This document has expanded on the work undertaken with Water Vision 2050 and now includes water supply and sewerage for all of the regional schemes, catchment management and the Toowoomba Bulk Water Supply.
"Water Vision 2071 has taken an 'all options on the table' approach to identifying potential future water sources for the Toowoomba Region.
"This document sets out areas where Council will need to invest further funds to meet the growth of the Region which allows us to better plan and budget for the future infrastructure that will be required."
Options that have been identified within the report includes:
- Increase water treatment plant capacity
- Increase the Cressbrook-Perserverance system entitlement limit
- Increase allocation from Wivenhoe
- Secure water supply to Cambooya, Greenmount, Nobby and Clifton via the Toowoomba to Warwick Pipeline
- Increase pumping capacity from Cressbrook
- Upgrade Wivenhoe pumps and increase allocation
- Alternate water supply or additional allocation, pipe and pumps from Wivenhoe.
On 27 June at the Ordinary Meeting of Council, Councillors voted on the following recommendation:
1. That Council endorses Water Vision 2071, comprised of two key documents, Water Vision 2071 Overview (Part A) and Water Vision 2071 Technical Report (Part B).
2. That this Strategy be used as the basis for future water security planning.
3. That Water Vision 2071 be reviewed and updated on a regular basis, nominally every four years to facilitate changes to growth patterns, infrastructure and new technology.
