Qld govt, council, at odds on water mining
Queensland state and local government officials are at odds over who has the power to stop water being sucked from a Gold Coast mountain while a school runs dry.
Tamborine Mountain State School has reportedly told parents its bore is running out and students should be turning up to class with extra water.
The state government is facing community calls to step in because water is being taken from the ground, bottled and sold by beverage giants like Coca Cola.
However, the government says it doesn't have the authority to curb extraction from the region unless a water shortage is declared.
Doing that would mean curbing how much water farmers, households, and businesses can use too, Natural Resources Minister Anthony Lynham said.
"As I have previously said, groundwater is not regulated on Mount Tamborine and so my department does not have the power to limit take," he said in a statement.
His office said it was an issue for the council - a claim disputed by Scenic Rim Regional Council mayor Greg Christensen.
Mr Christensen said his council doesn't have authority over water mining permits, and that underground water was controlled by the state government.
"Council has no authority to give anyone access to that water," Cr Christensen said.
"What council has responsibility for is the development applications above the ground.
"The Department of Natural Resources have shown no interest in a proper process for managing the aquifers at Tamborine Mountain."
