QLD: Flooding highlights drought problems says Cooper

AAP General News (Australia)
02-10-1999
QLD: Flooding highlights drought problems says Cooper

BRISBANE, Feb 10 AAP - The Queensland opposition today used south east Queensland's current
floods to highlight the need for water storage projects to combat future drought.

Opposition primary industries spokesman Russell Cooper said heavy rain this week would not
solve the water shortage problems of rural areas in Queensland's south-east corner.

Mr Cooper said: "It can be a long time between drinks for south east Queensland farmers."

Water storage projects pushed by the National Party include re-cycling Brisbane's waste
water to the Darling Downs, the Lockyer and Brisbane Valley - all major farming areas.

Mr Cooper said the Nationals also wanted to pipe excess water from the massive Wivenhoe
Dam, north-west of Brisbane, to the Atkinson Dam near Toowoomba.

"The Atkinson Dam has been full only twice in the past eight years," Mr Cooper said.

Yesterday, engineers at the Wivenhoe Dam began a controlled release of water into the upper
reaches of the Brisbane River as floodwaters pushed the dam to capacity.

Mr Cooper said: "Despite these rains there is a serious underlying water shortage on the
Darling Downs and other areas which must be addressed to keep our primary industries and their
communities viable."

He said recycling Brisbane's waste water had the added advantage of cleaning up Moreton Bay
where water qualities have been under attack by scientists.

AAP geb/cjh

KEYWORD: FLOODS QLD COOPER

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