Nursery & Garden Industry Queensland Show their Support

It's time for a Realistic Approach

Nursery and Garden Industry Queensland, (NGIQ), has joined the debate on the controversial Toowoomba Water Futures plan, urging residents of the garden city to vote yes on July 29th.

Executive Officer of NGIQ Donald Scotts says the key plank to the plan, to recycle water, is the only rational way forward for Toowoomba.

“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.”

Mr. Scotts says he believes that many people in Toowoomba take for granted the greenness of the city and the value that a garden focused approach has made.

“We need to ensure we have enough water to sustain our parks and gardens to continue the traditions that have become Toowoomba. The answer is pure, fresh and constant water.”

The growth in the city’s population, the worst drought in over 100 years and climate change all add up to mean that Toowoomba needs a sensible, viable long-term solution.

Mr. Scotts says that NGIQ has had a long look at the plan, and alternatives advanced and believes that Water Futures is the way forward for the garden city.

“Water Futures will provide Toowoomba with six-star standard water, the highest possible water quality rating. It will drought proof Australia’s lushest city and enable it to maintain its mantle as Australia’s premier garden city. This coupled to water wise management across the city is a necessary step for what has always been a very clever and innovative community.”

Mr. Scotts says alternative proposals that have been advanced are simply not workable.

“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.”

“By using world’s best technology and implementing recycling to top up or add to natural supplies, coupled to moves such as insisting rain water tanks be installed with all new buildings and encouraging people to install rain water tanks to their homes as well as the introduction of water saving devices in homes and buildings will mean Toowoomba will be a leading light in wise water usage.”

In the meantime Mr. Scotts is urging the gardeners of Toowoomba to liaise closely with their local nurseries who can advise them on how best to maintain their gardens.

“Our waterwise program for gardeners will also assist the garden city survive the current drought and help gardeners get by until Water Solutions effectively ends Toowoomba’s water crisis into the future.”

_____________________________________________ Released: 5 July 2006

For further information

Contact: Mr. Donald Scotts – Executive Officer
Nursery & Garden Industry Queensland
Ph: (07) 3277 7900
Mob: 0417 767 534