THE State Government's controversial water recycling plan is in doubt and the Traveston Dam project is on hold for several years in a major Bligh Government backflip. Premier Anna Bligh today gave her strongest indication yet the Government could abandon its plan to add recycled water to the state's drinking water supply.

She told State Parliament she had written to the  Queenland Water Commission seeking urgent advice on whether the 40 per cent trigger for recycled water should be retained.

Tell us: What do you think of Bligh's backflip?
Online poll: Queensland's water grid She said: "It is clear that people believe recycled water is a good insurance policy in the event that our dam levels plummet to low levels, but it's also clear that people are increasingly uneasy about recycled water as a constant part of our water supply system."

Ms Bligh also revealed the controversial Traveston Dam, near Gympie,  will be delayed for several years, although the government remains committed to the project.

Ms Bligh said the Co-ordinator General had recently advised her that there were concerns about destruction of habitat in the proposed dam area and measures would be needed to address this or the Federal Government would be unlikely to approve the dam.

Ms Bligh indicated that to improve the habitat, which is home to the lungfish , would take several years, delaying the construction and completion of the dam.

But she did not say the Government would abandon the dam completely. The dam is a crucial part of southeast Queensland's future water grid which was proposed by Labor to guarantee Queensland's water security into the future.

She said the another southeast Queensland dam, Wyaralong near Beaudesert, had received Federal Government approval and work would begin next year. It is expected to be completed by the end of 2011.

(News.com.au, 28/11/2008)