Supporters book

Chris Smith, Sydney: Why not recycle water for those who voted "yes" and turn off the water supply for "no" voters. Let's see how long they will go without water. Oh yeah, great fallback plan from the "no" fear team - NOTHING!! But I'm sure it will rain some day...

I feel sorry for the mayor and supporters - some people with vision who have been shot down by fear. Unfortunately we face the same fate in Sydney...

"Join us in showing your support for Water Futures - Toowoomba, an innovative project which uses viable means of providing Toowoomba with a safe, sustainable water supply."

Cr Dianne Thorley (Mayor), Cr Joe Ramia (Deputy Mayor),
Cr Michelle Schneider, Cr Sue Englart, Cr Regina Albion, Cr Michele Alroe.

Hugh Wilson, Toowoomba: Well, the result is now known. The St. Clive acolytes and the three National Party stooges on TCC have won the day. I await their solution to the problem as we now slip into Level 5 restrictions. It seems St Clive believes we can continue to keep drilling holes into the water table, for ever. It's been very hard to know what Rosemary and Snow were arguing, since they seem to keep changing their tack. Was it health? Or just the values of homes? Was it reality? Was it perceptions. Who knows?

Ultimately, the voting pattern shows this was a socio-economic battle with the less educated areas voting as they were told, by St Clive and the Nats. I trust the local Liberal Party will be reconsidering Macfarlane's continued endorsement after his very shallow attempts and having let the PMs down so very badly.

Margaret Donaldson, Townsville: What an inspiration! Congratulations to a forward thinking and environmentally responsible council for proposing and backing such a sensible yet controversial idea. Hope to see more efforts like this in the future - I would drink your water any day of the week! Cheers!

Peter & Rhyll Hancock, Nanango: Totally infavour.(YES) One forward thinking council. For those that say no they have better not travel overseas. Its been happening for years. Have they ever swam in dams? Farmers with cattle that feed on dam sides, everything that runs off the land into dams you name it . 6 stars to 4. be brave and vote YES.

Anon, Highfields: My wife and I live in Highfields - just near Toowoomba - we are strongly for Water Futures and our only regret is that we can't vote for it! Please Toowoomba residents show some commonsense and leadership - this could start a YES vote across Australia!

Daniel Strachan, Mirboo North, Victoria: I am inspired by what you are trying to achieve up there. I was astounded to hear that there is be such a loud and vocal campaign against such a fantastic proposal. Do the 'no' campaigners really think that the water will go untested, that people would be allowed to be poisoned?? Clearly an emotive debate without examining the (proven!!) science. We are having similar debates down here in Victoria about water. Melbourne continues to suck rivers and dams dry because people (not by choice!) flush pure drinking water down the toilet. We have enough water in this country, we just need to use it more wisely. I hope that everyone votes for this innovative venture that will leave a lasting legacy for your city.

Sharon, Mooroolbark, Melbourne: You have my support - as someone who supplies UV lamps for disinfection for Treatment Plants - I know and appreciate all the processes that are in place to make water 'safe'. People who are in doubt should talk to the operators of these plants - these are the guys who know exactly what is going on! The operators that I've talked to would be happy to drink it- And so would I! Good work Toowoomba!

Julie D., San Diego, California, USA: As an informed university student, I know the science of indirect potable reuse is sound. San Diego's trying to implement a very similar plan, and it's encouraging to see elsewhere in the world, despite unfounded dissenters, people are trying to ensure water in their future. I hope Toowoomba can help set an example not only in Australia but worldwide -- recycled water is the best future we can make for ourselves and our children! Good luck!

Terry, Toowoomba: Well done to council for providing a water source for our current and future water needs, it’s a pity that something this important has to be voted for by people that have conceived ideas without understanding the facts (or are unwilling to understand the facts). Let’s hope that common sense prevails on Saturday 29th and people vote for the Water Futures project.

Anon, Toowoomba: I was saying "no" to the vote until I read over this website and understood what was going to happen, and that the "no" campaign was operating by using the fear factor. I am a YES for Water Futures.

Mark Browning, Toowoomba: I would just like to say thank you to Mayor Thorley and her team for getting Water Futures rolling. I'm a 16 year old student and plan on staying in Toowoomba and raising a family. Without Water Futures now, by the time I'm old enough to put something like this to council, Toowoomba's water would be gone. We need a proactive, sustainable water source for Toowoomba. Not just for today's residents, but for my generation and the subsequent generations to come.

Again, thank you Mayor Thorley and team. I hope I can look back and tell my kids that Mayor Thorley's Council was the Council that secured Toowoomba's water supply. Water Futures IS the solution.

Michael Randall, NSW: Many years ago in a publication called "The Plain Truth" an article appeared about a centre in California called Santee. This article was about a project to reclaim waste water, back in the 1960's.

I have heard of the referendum in your city and searched out this website for your reference. begin search... Santee California, click on page 11, about middle of page is Jewishsightseeing.com. The history of this project is detailed,their program worked so well that they send water to others. Hope this helps.

Janice, Toowoomba: Congratulations to Di Thorley and those councillors who are prepared to step up to the plate and make difficult decisions that will not win them popularity contests. Recycling water makes sense - it is the only way to ensure sustainable water supplies into the future. You have my vote!

Michele Fowler, Crows Nest: I live in Crow's Nest and commute to Toowoomba for work. For 18 months I lived in the UK, drinking the recyclec water in and around London. Nothing happened to me - I didn't get sick, I didn't die, I didn't develop hormonal problems. Recycled water was our ONLY source of water over there, so I'm not scared to drink it here.

Besides, it's got to be a cleaner, healthier option to what we have now. Obviously people who drink "town" water (yes we have a tank in Crow\'s Nest and have had all my life) don't stop to think WHERE that town water comes from. It comes from the country - from country paddocks where cattle stand in it to drink - sometimes defecating and/or dying in it! Wow - what a really healthy option THAT is!! What about the chemicals in the water from cropping, fertilising, spraying etc? That doesn't get filtered out either!

The water which is being proposed for us to drink is filtered to an even higher degree than what we drink in Toowoomba and surrounding shires now. Yes it is scary being innovators and pioneers - but if they didn't exist, we wouldn't have a third of the things we take for granted today. And if Toowoomba doesn't become an innovator in waste water recycling, the tables will be reversed: we won't have something which we take for granted now - water! Good luck to the yes campaign - we need your kind of vision throughout Australia.

Peter Saville, Nicholson+Saville, Sydney, NSW: Good Luck! In a wider sense, I hope your efforts help to prove the benefits of using "good reason" over irrationality and dogma. I'd go to Toowoomba just because I KNOW the water IS clean!

Mr Greenwood, Brisbane: I'm from the UK and moved out to Brisbane last year. With all the talk of drought I was actually shocked to hear that Brisbane and other Australian cities does not already recycle waste water. The UK has been treating water and putting it back into supply or rivers used to provide water for decades and the water is considered among the best tap water in the world.

I think it's great Toowoomba is planning to reduce the wastage of this precious resource by recycling waste water. I can assure anyone with any worries that their is nothing wrong with this water and it is at least as pure as normal water.

I was laughing last night when I saw 60 minutes as campaigners for the NO vote suggesting the house market will crash, jobs will be lost etc due to this water recycling. I don't think any of this would happen and it may even attract industry and people to Toowoomba knowing it has a safe and reliable source of water. I'm in Brisbane not Toowoomba but I encourage people to vote Yes and hope Brisbane will see sense and follow in Toowoomba's footsteps by recycling instead of destroying nature and lifes with new dams such as the planned Mary River area dam.

Kevin Tomlinson, KAT Environmental, Medowie, NSW: This is a very necessary project and will lead the way to a water-parched nation. Other places are using indirect potable reuse and Australia has to start. Desalination is not the solution proposed by some, the environmental impacts are too potentially serious.

Kathleen De Pasquale, Melbourne: Go for it Toowoomba. you're leading the way to the future. You have a gutsy mayor who could show the rest of Australia how to survive

John and Nicole White, Toowoomba: We must embrace all possible solutions to our water problem and to recycle what we use makes good sense and embracing science to assist this is even smarter.

Gillian Gordon, Toowoomba: I am astounded by the blindness of the 'no' campaigners. The world has changed, people, and Australia is NOT in a drought cycle - it is almost out of water. Get used to it. The verdant Australian lawn will be a winter/wet-season event in future, and so it should be. Grey water should be bucketed onto fruit trees: we should all be doing what we can. One thing we can all do is support Di Thorley and the council: our great-grandchildren will thank them for their initiative.

A. Marks, Toowoomba: I'm a 17 year old student, so I'm not quite old enough to vote. However, the recycled water project has really inspired me. I have chosen to support the recycled water project through a panel discussion in my English class at school. I believe that the 'no' campaign has based their arguments on emotions and fears rather than facts. Even though I won't be able to vote, I hope that I am able to influence others to consider supporting this safe, sustainable water supply.

Jenny Riches, Brisbane: Congratulations Toowoomba on showing the rest of us the way forward! It's the quality of the water that's important - not where it came from.

Cassandra Grunberger, HSH Constructions (Enviro Shack), Toowoomba: Being an environmentally friendly company - you have our full support for the "Yes" vote !! The facts show us that it is fully safe to drink purified water and it is, in fact, the only way to ensure that our future water supplies are sustainable. Well done - see you on the 29th July.

Clare, Brisbane: Human waste is organic. For the people concerned about drinking recycled sewerage because of the chemicals and hormones, practice what you preach! Stop eating battery hens and beef from feed lots, don\'t dare use manure in your vege garden as it is a waste product and don\'t buy any fruit or vegetables because they have been sprayed with chemicals. Fabulous work Toowoomba City Council for such a brilliant, sustainable and innovative idea! VOTE YES!!!

John, Brisbane: Go for it. Toowoomba will lead the way for Brisbane and the rest of Australia. It's inevitable. It's a tried and trusted safe method. The options are recycle and sustain .... or waste away!

Julie Bannister, Toowoomba: Initially I did not support the Water Futures project but the no side have not come up with any alternatives. They keep pushing the Wivenhoe Dam idea for Toowoomba but it is nearly empty so that is never going to happen. Why don't they see this? Also the new dam they propost is never going to happen because it is in the catchment area for Wivenhoe. Water Futures seems to me like the only viable option we have. According to one of the comments on this website property values in Orange County went up after water recycling not down so lets vote yes and get on with it we are wasting valuable time.

Michael & Bettina Clark, Sapphire Productions, Toowoomba: Bettina and myself, think the Water Futures project is a brilliant concept to ensure the future water supply for our children. Our only wish is that it could have been introduced years earlier.

Alison Laverty, Toowoomba: I think this is a fantastic idea and I will be voting YES!

Janice, Toowoomba: Congratulations to Di Thorley and those councillors who are prepared to step up to the plate and make difficult decisions that will not win them popularity contests. Recycling water makes sense - it is the only way to ensure sustainable water supplies into the future. You have my vote!

John Cook, Toowoomba: I am suprised to see on television that Clive Berghoffer has chosen to support the No vote.
For all that he has done for this city and for his reputation as an intelligent and caring person I fail to understand why he cannot see the benefit of what the Water Futures project.
He appears, like many others, to be revolted by by the concept of recycled waste for human consumption but I think he fails to realise that for many years we have been subject to the canine, bovine, porcine and avian droppings that get washed into our water storage areas every time we get a decent drop of rain. He fails to realise that technology has ways of cleaning this wastage to drinkable standards. Why then not human waste as well?
Is it perhaps our covert attitudes to cannibalism that will allow us to drink the treated waste of animals but not that of fellow human beings?
It is time to recognise that technology has brought us into the 21st Century and that we can no longer afford the biased views of our ancestors.
I've drunk recycled sewage in many cities around the world. I'm a late septuagenarian and still as fit as a fiddle.
So I say to Clive and all those who have the same view it's not to late to change your mind and say YES on Saturday the 29th.

Max Rheese, Estancia Nursery, Benalla, Victoria: I fully support the concept of recycled water, having instituted it at my business in 1982 after becoming aware that my business was the third biggest water user in my city. Recycling makes the best use of a precious resource. I encourage Toowoomba to show Queensland that the Garden City is preparing for a sustainable future.

Ian Currie, Gympie: Go for it Toowoomba City Council. If all South East Queensland had your attitude we would not need more mega dams. Did you know that Cooloola Council was given your presentation about recycling and refused to partake or support you, and now some of them are strutting the stage condemning Beattie for the Traveston dam. How hypocritical can we let them get.

Anon, Toowoomba: Congratulations to the council for having the courage they have shown in trying to achieve some resolution to the water problem. Whilst I have a "mental" issue in drinking recycled water, I have done it in Singapore and London without realising it, and hey I am still alive! In fact the recycled water I drank actually tasted better than the Toowoomba water has ever tasted. Toowoomba water has always been awful to drink since I first came to live here in 1969. Since then I have lived in Brisbane and another major regional city - both of which had drinkable water by comparison. Now I have a tank and don't have to worry about drinking town water at all - I just have to worry about the dust and stuff from the environment and whatever else is washed into the tank from my roof. But I'm happy to take the risk.

I hope your bid is successful in having the project go ahead. It will show this council as progressive and will put Toowoomba on the world map.

Neal, Toowoomba: I am an active supporter of the Water Futures project. I understand the science and am happy to trust council and their experts. But I suppose my rationale is that we have to have water and my experience has been that it doesnt matter where it comes from, we have the capability to make it drinkable. I spent 21 years in the army and have served overseas. I have been in places where the water was unbelievably bad. The army would take water treatment machinery with us and we would drink the treated water for months on end. There is nothing scary about this process.

Neal, Toowoomba: I have put up a sign in my front yard and the support from the community is heartening. The reason that I am writing this is because of the latest "No" campaign sign. There is one particular property on West St that has 3 or 4 signs up that say "Its OK to say NO". My issue with the sign is that they have taken a very important message, that is completely unrelated to the debate, and changed its meaning. That slogan has important significance for many people and my first thought when I saw it was to think about sex. I can understand them stealing the slogan but I think that they have belittled the message that it was carrying. I have volunteered to man a polling booth and I am speaking to everyone that I can to get their support. I commend council on their forethought and steadfastness. Well done

Cassandra Grunberger, HSH Constructions (Enviro Shack), Toowoomba: Being an environmentally friendly company - you have our full support for the "Yes" vote !! The facts show us that it is fully safe to drink purified water and it is, in fact, the only way to ensure that our future water supplies are sustainable. Well done - see you on the 29th July.

Gary, Michelle & Sheila Warburton, Sunray Motor Inn, Toowoomba: The recycling of water will be great, unfortunately it is not an instant solution, but long term, there is no rain in sight and we really do need to look to the future to prevent a complete water shortage. We will be voting YES.

Nathan St. John, Queensland: How exciting it is that this proposal offers both a long term solution for water resources management throughout Toowoomba and presents a unique chance to set a benchmark in Queensland and Australian sustainable water practices. A 'YES' majority would be a step towards a more sustainable future for ours, and more importantly, the many generations to come.

Mr Donald Scotts, Nursery & Garden Industry Queensland, Salisbury: This is an area that has built its tourism industry and much of its economic sustainability around gardens and the Water Futures solution is the only sensible plan to date that can ensure the city's green image and way of life into the future.

The residents of Toowoomba need to understand that Water futures is not just about re-cycling water. Rather we believe it to be a well thought out approach that will use a combination of technologies and planning to drought proof the city. the reality is that if the drought ended tomorrow toowoomba still would not have enough water.

Don Burke, Burke's Backyard, Sydney: Many of Australia’s major cities are in trouble with chronic water shortages. Some experts are even saying that this is not a drought but rather a long-term change in climate patterns. While the major cities have so far failed to address the issues, Toowoomba is showing real leadership.

With Toowoomba’s Water futures project we may well see the model that all major cities will adopt in the future. Recycling of water is now essential and, of course, it is common in Europe and Asia. It is both safe and environmentally friendly.

I have visited Toowoomba many times and it really does have many of Australia’s greatest gardens. It is wonderful to hear that Toowoomba is taking steps to guarantee its position of Garden City continues unblemished. Some country towns may well be crippled by the drought, but the smart ones will move to protect their water supplies like Toowoomba is doing.

Michael Howe, Quality Hotel Burke and Wills, Toowoomba: Congratulations to Water Futures for an oustanding education campaign & for showing the courage & fortitude to ride out the misimformed ramblings of the grandstanding opposition. I'm sure that common sense will prevail at the ballot box, & Toowoomba can show the rest of the country we are not a community just sitting & praying for rain as some have suggested we do.

Michael Mobbs, Sustainable House, Sydney: This household I live in has been reusing our sewage for almost ten years with no problems. My little on site sewage system manages quite well. The dog drinks the water and the kids play with the hose. Noone has been ill and we're very comfortable with it. If we needed to we'd drink it - it's cleaner than many Australian town water supplies. I can't wait 'til Toowoomba shows the way and I would love to visit there once the recycling begins.

Bob Bruce, Queensland Skeptics Assoc Inc, Toowoomba: Skeptics support the use of RO plants as a win-win way of producing potable water at the same time as reducing pollution at it's source.

Jeanette Clewely, Clewely's Motel, Toowoomba: The underground water is diminishing, our bore has dropped a long way and we need to safeguard our future.  All the alternatives are too expensive.  It is better to keep what we have than to give it away and go looking for more.

Dr John Hewson, The John Hewson Group, Exeter: Sustainable water supply is one of the most pressing national issues in need of desperate attention by all three levels of Government. Di Thorley and the Toowoomba City Council are to be congratulated for the detailed and professional way they have assessed options to secure a safe and sustainable supply of water for Toowoomba. The Water Futures Recycling Project is clearly the most cost effective and efficient way of dealing with this issue. Indeed, I believe Toowoomba is emerging as a leader in this very important national debate.

I whole heartedly support the work of Di and her team and urge you to support them. From my painful personal experience, it’s never easy in Australian politics to lead on such a difficult issue when it’s so easy for your shortsighted, opportunistic political opponents to create “fear” and to score cheap political points, which they see to be to their short-term political benefit at the expense of the best interests of the community.

Sue Grant, Toowoomba: Interesting that London has LESS average annual rainfall (858mm) than Toowoomba (950mm in a normal year) - yet they have only NOW got water restrictions for the first time in 15 years. Guess why? They recycle their water and have done for years.

Anon, Toowoomba: Recently attended tour of Mt Kynoch water treatment plant and thanks to this experience, plus talk by Wendy Brunckhorst (B.Sc(Ag), M.Sc(Env.Mgt.), I am thoroughly convinced that recycled water is completely safe. Thanks TCC!

Melissa Fairley, Toowoomba: Thanks for proposing a no nonsense solution to Toowoomba's water scarcity challenge. The proposal have evaluated the most reasonable alternatives and came up with the most sustainable and cost effective solution for Toowoomba's next bulk water supply augmentation. Great work!

Clean Ocean Foundation Committee: The Water Futures Project is a groundbreaking initiative bringing world’s best practice in water reuse to Australia. The Project will assure Toowoomba of a secure water supply indefinitely enhancing its economic performance and environmental integrity.

Geoff Patch, Mayor, Crows Nest Shire: At a recent Highfields Cultural Centre workshop, there was almost unanimous support for the concept from the 180 attendees. In the first instance the Blue Mountains Heights area will use the water from Mt Kynoch, then in the longer term with the anticipated growth of the western edge of Highfields recycled water will be drawn from the Cooby pipeline. Council believes that recycled water can be safely used, as it is in other parts of the world, and will be needed to continue the development of the Shire. Crows Nest Shire Council embraces the Water Futures Project.

Kirstie Smolenski, Toowoomba: I have been talking to a contact in Orange County USA about land prices. He states that since they started recycling water the land prices have near doubled. A house that is positioned above an aquifer containing recycled water was priced at $320,000 pre recycling and is now $620,000. His reasoning is that peole understand the value of living with a sustainable, pure, water supply.

Mark, Toowoomba: It is fantastic to witness political courage the likes of which is rarely seen in this country. Good on Toowoomba for trying to set a wonderful precedence for this dry, dehydrating country of ours. I'm very proud to be associated with this opportunity. Vote yes for a more sustainable Swamp!! (Toowoomba is the indigenous word for swamp)

Fletcher Farrington, Warragul VIC / Toowoomba QLD: As a Toowoomba property owner but temporarily not a resident I have no say as to what outcome is reached. But surely it is better to freely support the strategy now, than to have it imposed upon you. You will regret you did not support it, when there is less than 10% of capacity left, and you are walking to the end of the street to get water.

Anon, Toowoomba: I fully support the recycling proposal. We will not be the first people to drink recycled water. After all it is only speeding up what occurs naturally anyway. CADS (citizens against doing something) need to stop being so sqeamish. I wonder how many of them smoke poison every day.

Don Murphy, Jerrabomberra, NSW: I lived in Toowoomba or surrounds for 25 years, and my wife and I intend to retire back to Toowoomba. I firmly believe that the science is irrefutable, and that it is essential to recycle. I cannot comprehend that we still waste so much of a precious, reusable resource, and water recycling should start as soon as possible.

Jim Soorley, Brisbane: For so long in Australia we have taken water for granted and in fact abused this precious resource. Nature is now telling us to be careful and resourceful with our water.Many parts of the country are suffering from drought. Toowoomba\'s city\'s response this crisis sets an example for the nation. You are to be congratulated for dealing with this matter head.Histot will judge you as wise and sensible for demanding great reuse of water

Paul Hodgson, Sustainnovation Pty Ltd, Ipswich: I congratulate Toowoomba for taking a leadership position on water futures and showing other cities how to take long-term decisions to maintain critial water supplies. All water is currently recycled anyway and this initiative will provide Toowoomba with a real and sustainable future.

Cam, Toowoomba: why are we listening to the CADS arguements. their only way to get their arguement across to the citizens of Toowoomba is by scaring them into that it is ok to vote no.

Cr Bob Abbot, Noosa Council, Noosa: Toowoomba has the chance to show the rest of Australia the way forward on water reform in the driest continent on the planet. With my understanding of how water recycling is commonplace throughout the world and my knowledge of modern water tecnology I believe the Toowoomba proposal is worlds best practice and really worth supporting. Good on you Toowoomba !!! Show us the way!!!!!!!!!!

Kevin Lyons, Toowoomba: Keep up the good work.

Cahim Lee, Aspire Computing, Toowoomba: Water is a finite resource essential to all life. By its chemical nature it can be cleaned, purified and reused many times over. When it comes to toilets, water is just the carrier fluid. This type of purification and recycling process should be used everywhere. Go for it Toowoomba it is so obviously the answer to extending our supplies and alleviating our current and predicted water shortage. A referendum should be superfluous Vote YES.

Amanda, Toowoomba: It is amazing how much clean water we waste in the home just running the tap to get hot water! Recycling wastewater is a positive sustainable option for Toowoomba residents and industry. The technology’s there we should use it. The community and individuals need to take greater responsibility on how we use this resource and the long-term future of Toowoomba’s water. Using treated wastewater for the carnival of flowers would also be a fantastic platform to promote wastewater reuse.

I am confident that the water futures program will be successful.

Anon, Toowoomba: I hope the people voting NO have an alternative to flush toilets when there is no water left.

Anon, Toowoomba: The water futures program makes sence. Other options are going to cost ratepayers huge amounts more and for what reason? They don't like the sound of it. Lets be realistic, it is simply common sence and enviromentally sustainable to vote YES!

Max Brady, Darling Downs Tarpaulins, Toowoomba: The water situation is DIRE, or soon will be. We as a community must do all we can and this includes recycling water.......GO FOR IT TOOWOOMBA

Jim, Toowoomba: water sustains life - that also includes humans!!! Let those who knock the sustainable water solution come up with a better cost sustainable option. They cannot because there isn't one !!

Peter Swannell, Toowoomba: We drink what comes out of the front end of Mt Kynoch. It's 5 star now, quality way above applicable Australian standards, and still will be with Water Futures implementation. The only difference is that what goes in to Mt Kynoch will be better than now. So Vote YES and let's get on with it.

Felicia, Toowoomba: My partner and I will be voting 'yes' for Water Futures. It seems ridiculous to be wasting all that water when a safe alternative exists and is feasible.

Michael Fuhlbohm, Toowoomba: Lets hope that the people of this city have the foresight and nous to vote yes next month. It is such a shame that so much of this campaign is based on emotion and scaremongering. We need to use our existing resources much better and not rely on developing new ones. Our existing ones can't support us as they are!! I can't wait until this vote is over and we can move forwards. If Toowoomba is a trailblazer in this area, then the training and expertise that is developed here can be exported around Australia, adding more value.
Lets be leaders and not followers, shift your paradigms and be pioneers! That is what progress and development is all about.

V. Anderson, Toowoomba: We support the Water Futures initiative of the TCC. What may seem a drastic measure now is inevitably the way of the future and will benefit Toowoomba residents and build confidence in Toowoomba as a viable city with adequate water.

Jon Albiez, Wynnum: Well done on proposing a sustainable water reuse system - the quality of the recycled water will exceed that currently supplied in Toowoomba. Once people start debating with their heads instead of their hearts they will soon realise this is the best solution all-round for an inland city.

Jess, Toowoomba: Good on you Councillors for having the political guts to push forward with a such a controversial issue! It is clearly the best option for a sustainable water source. If the yes vote gets up and we go ahead with recycling for potable reuse, I'm sure we'll see the rest of SEQ and others follow suit in the near future. Building more dams is not the way to solve our water problems.

Darren Campbell, Toowoomba: I'm a supporter

Andy Burke, Master Plumbers Association, Toowoomba: The project is a practical, viable solution to ensuring the city has a safe,sustainable water supply. "Water gives our city life" It is essential for our economic growth and prosperity. As plumbers, we know that the processes involved will deliver fresh, clean water. We are happy to work with recycled water.

The Master Plumbers Association are proud to publicly endorse the project and encourage other organisations to follow their lead.

Anon, Toowoomba: It would appear that the knockers of the Water Futures project have not come up with a workable alternative so are they prepared to let the City run out of water because of the miniscule amount that is used for drinking. They can buy bottled water if they dont want to drink it.I was raised in Kingaroy where their water has been recycled since the sewerage system was first installed in the fifties. The treatment there is nothing like the quality that is proposed for Toowoomba and I or anyone else have not suffered any ill effects.

Holli McIntyre, Toowoomba: I'm a supporter

Frank Scheele, Toowoomba: The demonstration at Laurel Bank Park last Sunday resulted in only 17% of people nominating the water samples correctly. A little bit of statistical analysis would probably show that this percentage correct resulted purely by chance.

I'm not a mathematician or statistician, but there were 3 x 2 x 1 = 6 different ways of naming all the three samples. So the odds are 1/6 = 17% that you'll get the right answer, working purely by chance.

So if only 17% got it right, it shows that no-one really had any idea, otherwise you would expect a higher percentage to get it right.

Anon, Toowoomba: Sustainable water is essential.

Peter Grec, Toowoomba: I believe water futures will be a great thing for Toowoomba. Contrary to what the opponents say people will be attracted to the town once they know we have a good reliable source of clean water, bring it on.

Scott Fletcher, Gold Coast:  We all agree that water is a diminishing resource and we need to replace it some way or another.