Red tape restricts water flow

Federal and state governments have made important step towards this goal by first, launching the National Water Initiative, and more recently by holding the water summit in Canberra in early November. Leaders who met on that are in no doubt about the gravity of the problems Australia faces.

While this co-operative national focus is important, we should not ignore what can be achieved collectively by builders and consumers embracing sustainability principles. As a member of the Federal Government’s Urban Water Advisory Group, HIA is contributing to efforts to identify new and better solutions for providing water to Australian households.

With water and climate change expected to be a major agenda item for the next Council of Australian Governments meeting in April, HIA will be pushing for regulatory reform to allow for the ready take-up of new water-efficient technology.

Following the water summit we have a real opportunity to effect reform and create better solutions for managing water and climate change, but time is getting short. What is required is urgent and decisive action now to safeguard our lifestyle and that of future generations.