By Adam Coleman

Queensland’s Home WaterWise Rebate Scheme last week paid a record $2.34 million in rebates throughout Queensland for water tanks, water-efficient washing machines and dual-flush toilet suites.

“The Home WaterWise Rebate Scheme has been an unprecedented success with a flood of rebate applications being received,” says Paul Childs, a spokesperson for the Minister for Natural Resources and Water, Craig Wallace.
“The scheme has been going for about eight months and when we first started we were paying about $300,000 a week out to people and now we are paying $2.3 million,” he said.

Rebates were paid for 4663 water-saving products including 1999 rainwater tanks, 1529 water-efficient washing machines, 512 pool cover/rollers, 299 shower heads, 296 dual-flush toilet suites, and 28 greywater systems.

Mr Childs cited community concern due to the drought in Queensland as one reason for the scheme’s popularity.
“This is the worst drought in living memory in this part of Australia and people want to do everything they can to conserve water they are concerned about the water levels in the dams. It’s deadly serious really.”

He says the scheme began with $49 million in funding.

“We have given out $20 million and the premier said that we will review the Scheme as and when that limit is reached,” he says.

The Home WaterWise Rebate Scheme offers rebates including up to $1000 for water tanks, $200 for 4-star or better water-rated washing machines and $150 for dual-flush toilets.