Toowoomba, water recycleing

[felixe]

Obviously!
What a great idea!!

Biting midge, I don't agree with your solution of higher population density, it would mean my mother in law would be too close!!:eek:

[bitingmidge]

Everything comes at a price!



P

[Doughboy]

Oh crape


There should be ''another'' city for mother-in-laws only that way we only see them for holidays or other such instances..

Pete

I love my m-i-l dearly when she is in Brisbane and I am in Canberra.

[felixe]

I'll gladly pay a higher price for water, but "your price" is extortion!!!:eek:

[journeyman Mick]

Don't we have a higher population density now than we used to? I mean look at all the stuff they have on TV, Big Brother etc, I mean if that's not a sign of a more dense population, I don't know what is. Sorry, what's that? Oh not that sort of density, the other sort, oops I rest my case.

Mick

[Sir Stinkalot]

The way I see it (all be it from 450km away), is the population is increasing, but no increased water storage, ie, dams.

Down here its isn't the number of dams that is the problem, it is getting enough wet stuff to fill them. Building a dam may look like a good solution to the problem and instill false hope in some but if there is nothing to fill them then it is a waste of time and money. Rainfall further north may be a different issue than down south.

[Clinton1]

Higher population density .... bah! As if it only applied to SEQ. Got a little bit of tunnel vision there Midge?

I think its time to get away for SEQ being further developed and start to apply a little Strategic Planning and pushing the population to north QLd.
Isn't there an argument for developing other cities/areas in Qld? Something about many economies of scale, rather than just one sprawling, poorly planned city?

The Manhattan argument is incomplete. Put all of SEQ's population into Toowoomba... where would you harvest all the required water from (discount putting a tap up everyones bum )?
Part of the problem is that the 'idiot educated' look overseas for solutions and forget about considering all the factors. i.e. Manhattans average rainfall is 47.2 inches, Toowoomba is 37 inches. I do believe that Manhattan is situated beside a river that dwarfs any of ours, and has much lower evapotranspiration. God, I hate these morons that look overseas and thieve a 'solution', bring it over here and pretend that their head isn't inserted where the tap should be! (not directed at you personally, BM!)

Good to see that you assumed that my comment was about "So all you buggers that wozn't born here should just pizorf somewhere else then!". My comment wasn't about that, nor do i think that was part of the Toowoomba No voters perspective.

Rather than the assumption that the average farmer is an uninformed redneck who likes downing a carton and "gown pig shootn", most of them are either running multi-million dollar businesses and being world leaders at it, or they are developing small farm holdings to become multi-milion dollar businesses. The average city dwellers technnlogical uptake is with mobile phones so they can watch big brother while at 'work', whereas the farmer is more likely to be buying this http://www.terrabyte.net.au/services_farm.htm, and using soil impedance mapping tied to GPS based soil prep and yield measurement, and working out how to get a decent ROI on it.

nice try at the weekend argument though 'Midge!

[bitingmidge]

Higher population density .... bah! As if it only applied to SEQ. Got a little bit of tunnel vision there Midge?

Vision is indeed what I have!

I think its time to get away for SEQ being further developed and start to apply a little Strategic Planning and pushing the population to north QLd.
Isn't there an argument for developing other cities/areas in Qld? Something about many economies of scale, rather than just one sprawling, poorly planned city?

Yes, but the sprawling poorly planned city shouldn't be there at all! The sprawl is just a function of desirability "lifestyle" that exists because idiot politicians provide services to it (or don't). If sewerage, sealed roads, and water were provided where it was efficient to provide it, then the desirability of the sprawl would be reduced!

The Manhattan argument is incomplete. Put all of SEQ's population into Toowoomba... where would you harvest all the required water from (discount putting a tap up everyones bum )?

From all of the current supplies that feed us all. It's not rocket science, jsut takes a big pump! In any case, why would the population go to Toowoomba (which I used by way of comparison only)? It would surely be better served where there is a beach, a port and direct access to rail links to the rest of Qld? Maybe Surfers Paradise since it already has a head start.

Part of the problem is that the 'idiot educated' look overseas for solutions and forget about considering all the factors.

That's most of the problem actually!

i.e. Manhattans average rainfall is 47.2 inches, Toowoomba is 37 inches. I do believe that Manhattan is situated beside a river that dwarfs any of ours, and has much lower evapotranspiration.

And the population of Manhattan is similar to the population of SEQ (give or take) however, it doesn't have the benefit of vacant land for thousands of K's around it. It actually has a population of 15m or so surrounding it and sharing resources. When considering those factors, our densification model is starting to look pretty impressive eh?

God, I hate these morons that look overseas and thieve a 'solution', bring it over here and pretend that their head isn't inserted where the tap should be! (not directed at you personally, BM!)

I understand what you are saying completely! But I hate the morons who don't pull their head out to look overseas even more!

Rather than the assumption that the average farmer is an uninformed redneck who likes downing a carton and "gown pig shootn",

Then you've met some of my mates eh?

most of them are either running multi-million dollar businesses and being world leaders at it, or they are developing small farm holdings to become multi-milion dollar businesses.

and might I add are the most heavily subsidised industry in the country to boot!

The average city dwellers technnlogical uptake is with mobile phones so they can watch big brother while at 'work', whereas the farmer is more likely to be buying this http://www.terrabyte.net.au/services_farm.htm, and using soil impedance mapping tied to GPS based soil prep and yield measurement, and working out how to get a decent ROI on it.

That's exactly I say again EXACTLY why the opinion of the average city dweller should never be considered. That's EXACTLY why the Toowoomba poll was/is a crock of untreated effluent!

nice try at the weekend argument though 'Midge!

Thanks! (the weekend's not over by a long chalk by the way! )

Cheers,

P

[Rossluck]

Just so that people who've never lived on tank water can appreciate what it's like, I thought I'd relay our experiences. We've lived primarily on tank water for 6 years now. In winter when it's dry here (Gold Coast hinterland) we tend to order in about three loads. We have one 5,000 gallon (22,730.45 litre) tank, and SWMBO has been pestering me about getting another one. A truck load pretty-well fills the tank and costs around $120 (going up all the time).

We've only had one bad experience in the time that we were here, and that is when yours truly left a pipe disconnected during maintenance and a frog climbed in and died. The taste of the frog decomposing was immediately obvious (sorry about the image), and SWMBO - a microbiologist - insisted we empty out and clean the hell out of the tank and then get a new load in. [anecdotally, the same thing happened in Toowoomba in the 1890's, when a man committed sucide in the town's water supply].

Outside of that, we don't feel that there is any danger in drinking tank water. In fact, we notice a negative difference when the town water is delivered to us. It's harder and has a "flat" taste, probably from treatment.

One thing is obvious, though, you learn to be ultra-careful with water. I saw a post from SilentC a few weeks ago were he was trying to find a solution for the cold water that runs into the sink before the hot comes through when you have a shave. That's exactly the sort of thing that annoys you. And you're forever pointing out to the kids that "you never leave the water running". You tend to buy front loading washing machines that use a lot less water, and you install a dishwasher in the hope that you can use it in the rainy season. The idea of using your precious tank water to water the garden is beyond imagination, although a few pots might get a drink. Apart from the small amount of sullage water we use on the garden, the general idea is that "if it can't live here without supplementary water, then the plant doesn't belong". SWMBO must have the same attitude about me, because - I hate to admit this - I have the "last bath". Each night we run a bath for the - two small - kids, then it's topped up for SWMBO, and then topped up for me. This water goes into the sullage tank with the wahing up and laundry water and it goes onto the garden.

You get used to living like this and it isn't a hardship or inconvenience.

[ozwinner]

There is a new housing estate being developed just north of Meblourne at the moment.
Nothing is going to leave the estate, all the waste is going to be treated on site and reused.
The people who buy the blocks are going to pay a premium to live there, I beleive they have sold lots of blocks.

Al

[Wood Butcher]

Well, I was on the phone to the old boy this afternoon for our weekly chat and he said the rain he got in Warwick (its 1hr south of Toowoomba) last week filled all of his tanks. He now has 22,000 gallons of rainwater. Reckons it should see him through till at least christmas

[Wood Butcher]

There is a great book by Linda Cockburn (no its not a porno story) about permaculture. "Living the Good Life" ISBN 1-74066-312-8

It about a 6 months experiment to live as self-sufficient as possible on a small property (1 acre?) in Gympie, QLD. The made their own power, used rain water and even a composting toilet. It probably is the extreme end of the scale but some of the ideas are great and I will be implementing them when I build my next house.

There is also a website about this www.lintrezza.com

[ozwinner]

There is a great book by Linda Cockburn (no its not a porno story) about permaculture. "Living the Good Life" ISBN 1-74066-312-8

It about a 6 months experiment to live as self-sufficient as possible on a small property (1 acre?) in Gympie, QLD. The made their own power, used rain water and even a composting toilet. It probably is the extreme end of the scale but some of the ideas are great and I will be implementing them when I build my next house.

There is also a website about this www.lintrezza.com

Que Grunt.........

I wonder where he is?:confused:
He is usually pretty voicefull on all things recycle.

Deep down Im a greenie, there, Ive said it.
My next place hopefully will be on a coupla acres ( no, not them sort of achers ) and I will be doing all things good in the way of power and water management.

Al

[ernknot]

There is ,its called Amsterdam. Anyway that's where mine is.

[Lignum]

Nothing is going to leave the estate, all the waste is going to be treated on site and reused.
Al

Isnt that the Lexus center your talking about:confused: