At least the Queensland Water Commission takes a lot of the bureaucracy out of the system, and gives the state and local councils something else to argue about and whose responsibility it is to do what ie. the amalgamation of Councils but thatis a separate issue again

Tough decisions like these should have been made years ago. Better late then never!!

Peter Beattie has at least taken on the responsibility for the water. Councils don't know what they are doing because they are made up of "would bes", trainee politicians, real estate people and shopkeepers; all of whom are in it for their own benefits.
It is time councils were placed back in their rightful role. This role, of course will need to be modified. Meetings will be called and discussions had blah,blah,blah and people will get up in arms because Mary said that she could fix it up so that it is just like her kitchen, instead of being like Fred's shed.
Go the tough decisions and leave opinions for discussions when the weather isn't worth talking about.