By Dominique Tassell
Southern Downs Regional Councillors engaged in a heated debate over reinstating recycled water charges at the recent Ordinary Council Meeting.
Charges were paused during the pandemic, and the director now wants to reinstate them.
While many councillors seemed to have similar views to begin with, the meeting descended into a spirited debate over the motion.
Councillor Cameron Gow raised at the start of the debate that he believed it should lay on the table, as Stanthorpe sporting fields have historically received recycled water free of charge.
He said this was due to the view that their using the recycled water was a “benefit to the community”.
No contracts were ever signed, he said.
Councillor Gow said maybe Warwick sports grounds could be treated the same as Stanthorpe sports grounds.
Councillor Stephen Tancred agreed and said there was other info that needed to be considered for the motion to be properly considered.
He said some organisations shouldn’t be charged a “huge cost”, and SDRC should instead look at cost recovery.
He also stated that SDRC needs to separate agriculture and lifestyle use in regards to water use.
Councillor Jo McNally said she also thought the motion should be deferred, raising that some organisations may not want to use recycled water anymore.
Mayor Vic Pennisi stated they weren’t introducing anything new, and SDRC should deal with any issues individually.
Councillor Andrew Gale stated he was happy to move the motion, as he wants “money in the bank”.
Councillor Cynthia McDonald stated that if Warwick is paying, Stanthorpe needs to as well.
She said that organisations in Warwick should not be penalised, and it should be “fair and consistent” throughout the region.
Councillor Sheryl Windle agreed with Councillor McDonald, stating that “I do believe it’s time that we actually started to look at this equitably across the region”.
“We’re elected to make decisions for the greater good of the whole region, and it’s time that we actually started to fix some of this and get it equitable across the region,” she said.
“There’s unrest out there at the moment, we need to overcome that somehow.”
Councillor Ross Bartley stated that he believes SDRC should charge for the use of a resource.
Councillor Tancred then moved a procedural motion to end the debate and move to voting on the motion.
Councillor McDonald spoke against this, stating “there are people around this table who have not had their say”.
She stated that Councillor Tancred was trying to shut down debate.
Councillor McNally sarcastically commented that this was “democracy at work”.
Councillor McDonald stated all councillors present were elected and were not all being recognised as such.
Mayor Pennisi stated he does not stifle debate in the chamber.
Councillors McDonald and McNally said their hands were up before Councillor Tancred’s motion, and they should get to speak as a result.
Due to Councillor Tancred moving a procedural motion, it was stated this would not happen.
Councillor McDonald questioned what policy they were following.
SDRC CEO Dave Burges stated he was following Council’s policy.
Councillor McDonald said Council policy is “stifling democracy” and should be changed.
The motion then lapsed, and Councillor McNally moved a second motion to have charges come into effect in July 2022 when the new budget commences, so Stanthorpe charges could be worked out.
Councillor Gow stated that Granite Belt not-for-profits made a contribution to the pipeline so own part of it, and further said that he doesn’t believe a blanket price or charge should be made.
He said SDRC needs to be “cognisant and respectful” of Stanthorpe Shire agreements, maintaining his initial stance that the motion needed to lay on the table.
Councillor Gow stated he did not approve of the motion’s wording, as it seemed it implied SDRC would start charging the Granite Belt when the Granite Belt is “providing a service by using recycled water”.
Councillor McNally suggested it be added to the motion that the issue would be brought to an information session.
Councillor Bartley stated it was “unusual” to have a debate on the construction of a motion.
“All we’re trying to do is reinstate charges in Warwick that have historically been there,” he said.
Councillor Tancred stated he felt “terribly unprepared” to vote because staff had not been expecting such an intense debate and thus they did not have all the information before them.
He said he didn’t agree with losing income for six months by delaying the motion.
Councillor McNally said it’s wrong to help Stanthorpe sports clubs but not Warwick ones.
Councillor Gliori seconded this.
Councillor Gale stated he finds it “really hard” to forego income, as this would put downward pressure on rates.
Councillor Gow argued there are no usage charges in Stanthorpe to review, so recycled water charges overall need to be reviewed.
He stated he would second the motion with that change.
The CEO stated that water is more expensive and worth more in Warwick because of the quality of its treatment.
Councillor Tancred repeated that he didn’t think SDRC should delay taking money from Warwick for six months.
Councillor McDonald stated that “we are one region” and charges should apply equally.
Councillor Windle stated that SDRC had been told we don’t listen and “I’ve been listening”.
She said there is unrest over inequality in the region, particularly over sporting clubs.
Councillor Gliori supported this, and stated the ‘us and them’ argument is “concerning”.
“We need consistency and at least need to understand why leases are not the same,” he said.
Councillor Bartley stated the drought is a bigger issue than Covid-19, and SDRC needed to reinstate charges for recycled water.
Councillor McNally argued there needed to be a “clear direction” before the motion was passed.
Councillor Windle said clubs also need time to budget for any changes in charges.
“It’s not fair to put that on them suddenly,” she said.
Councillors McNally and Windle moved a motion, which then once again lapsed with a division called.
Councillor Gow then moved to defer it to the budget, which Councillor McNally commented was the exact same outcome the previous motion had been trying to achieve.
Mayor Pennisi seconded Councillor Gow’s motion and highlighted that clubs are doing it tough currently.
He stated that there is “intricacy” to the details and history of this motion.
“Our difference define us and are our strengths,” he said.
The motion was successfully carried, with a division called.
Councillors Bartley, Gale, and Tancred voted against the motion.
