By Susan searle

TOOWOOMBA City Council is initiating plans to prepare another submission for Federal Government funds to build a stand-alone recycling plant to treat water for drinking.

Cr Sue Englart said it was time to stop "tippy-toeing" around.

More than a year after the historic poll which rejected the plan, the controversial recycled water is destined for the city's supply when it links to the South East Queensland water grid.

And once water flows from Wivenhoe Dam to Perseverance Dam via a pipeline, the State intends assuming the city's water infrastructure.

Councillors, with the exception of Snow Manners, agreed that if recycled water were to come through the taps, Toowoomba should have its own recycling plant and keep its assets.

Cr Englart's request came after she was set back on her haunches by Member for Groom Ian Macfarlane. She told her colleagues this week she had asked of Mr Macfarlane what he could do about the city's water crisis.

"He said we haven't submitted any applications since the water poll last year," she said.

Heartened by his response, Cr Englart declared it was time to test the "influence" Mr Macfarlane maintained he had within his Cabinet.

The Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources, Mr Macfarlane and Labor candidate Chris Meibusch espoused their vision for the future of the electorate at an Urban Developers Institute of Australia breakfast.

Citizens Against Drinking Sewage (CADS) coordinator Rosemary Morley has put councillors on notice with a letter of protest.

Mrs Morley implored councillors to "put an immediate stop to this scaremongering campaign as this community is in enough upheaval because of the amalgamations debacle".