Greens candidate for Chatsworth again pushes the importance of a better housing sustainability code a year later, highlighting that Greens were leaders in pre-empting Queensland�s water crisis.

Ms Jenkins � who also ran in last year�s by-election � said that during the by-election the State Government had just released a new housing policy.

�At the time I commented that it did nothing to inspire the innovative design of new sustainable homes and failed to look at the benefits of harvesting rainwater.

�I highlighted that Environment Minister Desley Boyle had missed a great opportunity to solve any future water crisis by mandating rainwater tanks for new housing developments.

�Well now the crisis that The Greens anticipated is upon us and Queensland is no closer to finding appropriate solutions to adequate water supplies.

�As a result, the State Government announced two new dams which is not only uprooting homes and families but compromising the future of exceptionally important native flora and fauna.

�It�s essential we provide adequate water supplies to Queenslanders. What is not essential is building dams as a band-aid solution until an independent inquiry reports on the State�s urban needs.

�That�s why I am asking State Government to reconsider the development of dams and to embrace water recycling as a matter of urgency.

�The Greens were leaders in promoting strict water conservation and water solutions.

�The people of Chatsworth should vote 1 Greens and demand leadership in Queensland Parliament to ensure there�s someone advocating long-term social and environmental solutions.

�I�d really hate to see suburbs like Gumdale, Burbank and Chandler turn into big ugly residential pockets full of badly-designed homes.
Ms Jenkins said the Labor state government had a long history of non-action.
�Badly managed urban sprawl in the Chatsworth electorate is clearly a direct result of flawed state government practice.

�The South-East Queensland Regional Plan contains environmental black spots and highlight�s the State Government�s short sightedness.

Elissa Jenkins said Caltabiano, who was clearly in the pockets of the developers, was a loose canon and shouldn�t be trusted.

�Caltabiano and the Liberal party have an appalling track record of considering the environment and the community�s future wellbeing when making decisions.

�The Liberals are even more hopeless than Labor at looking to the future.

�I am asking the people of Chatsworth to demand no more dams and immediate water recycling � and to demand that from both Bombolas and Caltabiano.

�The way to do that is for Chatsworth electors vote one Greens to ensure they elect someone who is going to provide their own community and all communities throughout Queensland a healthy, safe environment in which to live, work and play,� she said.

For election and policy details visit www.qld.greens.org.au.

To view Elissa’s political web log visit www.elissa.info.

For more information, interview or photo opportunities call Elissa Jenkins on
0418 786 986 or e-mail chatsworth@qld.greens.org.au.

*Written and authorised by Elissa Jenkins, 26 Horan Street, West End, QLD 4101