Campbell Newman’s being urged not to gamble Brisbane’s water future in a populist bid to woo residents a few weeks from the ballot box.

Brisbane can’t afford to risk wasting water.

“It may be popular to offer Brisbane a chance to splash around more water but it’s a gamble,” Labor Lord Mayoral Candidate Greg Rowell said. “The fact is it took just 2 years for our dams to plunge 21 per cent (August 2005 to August 2007 - QWC).

“It’s always tempting to splash out before the election but Campbell Newman has to hold the line now.

“Campbell Newman’s water gamble is risky, populist vote buying – still Brisbane residents are smarter than that. They know it would be foolish to abandon restrictions too early.

“Residents have sacrificed so much for 2 years and they are not about to waste their efforts now. They need the Council to stand with them now.

“The Council should be doing more to help people save more water. Residents need practical rebates on water efficient washing machines and tanks. Families need stormwater harvesting for parks and sporting fields to keep them green once the rainy season ends.

“Underground pipes must be fixed to stop tens of millions of litres of fresh drinking water leaking away each day.

“These are some of the practical local plans Labor will deliver for Brisbane families if I’m elected Lord Mayor on March 15.

“The water experts will tell us when it’s safe to move away from Level Six Restrictions.”