Water tanks pose dengue risk: Qld MP

Wed 25 Jun 2008

A Queensland politician has warned the state could face dengue fever outbreaks if mandatory water tanks, brought in to beat the drought, are not properly maintained.

Paul Gregory, chair of Cairns City Council's water and waste committee, has called on the Queensland government to give an assurance it will pay to monitor any tropical health risks brought about by mandated water tank regulations.

"While we support wise water use, many of us on council believe the one-size-fits-all-of-Queensland approach to water saving is overkill in a region with decent rainfall," he said.

"The easiest way to meet the requirements under the code will be to install a rainwater tank.

"Some of us are concerned that if tanks are not properly maintained or installed there may be increased health risks such as dengue fever."

Mandatory water saving targets for all new homes and commercial buildings will take effect in the Cairns area from July 1.

"If a need arises to implement a tank monitoring or inspection schedule we want an assurance that the state will respond appropriately," Mr Gregory said.

He said the dengue threat could spread south to cover much of Queensland.

"One of the issues around climate change is these tropical diseases are likely to head further south," Mr Gregory said.

"Areas where dengue wasn't endemic are likely to become endemic, and that's an issue that needs to be addressed."