Units Join Water Battle

Published: 16 March 2007.

DRY ARGUMENT

Words: SUE GARDINER ? Brisbane News May 2006

INNER-CITY apartment dwellers are set to benefit from the extension of the popular rainwater tank rebate from July as the drought crisis deepens. By popular demand, body corporates will be eligible for a rebate on the tanks which could be used as a water supply for shared common areas of unit buildings.

Existing rebate criteria only applies to houses.Central Councillor David Hinchliffe sad it would save city residents money as well as the city?s water supply.?We have tens of thousands of unit dwellers in Brisbane and as councilor for central I?m particularly delighted with this new policy,? Cr Hinchliffe said.

The size of the rainwater tank needed to attract the rebate is still being determinedThere have been 4500 rebates from $500 to $750 issued this financial year.Unit Owners? Association president Garry Maynard has welcomed the move.

Mr Maynard said the tanks could be used to maintain gardens around apartment blocks.?Breen areas are really important to people in units otherwise you end up as a caged hen,? he said. Mr Maynard called for water meters to be installed on individual apartments to encourage further conservation measures.He said a common complaint among unit owners was they suspected they were subsidising their neighbour?s irresponsible water use.?It?s a bit demoralizing when you?re in a unit block and one of your neighbours has a spa bath.?The user-pays system is much better.?