The Queensland government is trucking in emergency supplies of water after Tamborine Mountain state school ran dry - even though mountain water is being sold to commercial bottling operations.

In fact, many bores in the Gold Coast Hinterland area have been running dry since the drought was declared in May.  Even though the school remains open, officials are asking parents to send kids to school with their own bottled water.  Teachers are reportedly asking parents to at least consider keeping their children at home.  The school's toilets are operating with tank water, and hand sanitizer is beng supplied.

Every year, water miners in the Mount Tamborine area send roughly 130 million litres of water to commercial bottling operations such as Coca-Cola, and area activists think that's ridiculous under the circumstances.  Craig Peters of the group Save Our Water Tamborine Mountain told the ABC that the state school's water problem is "illustrative of the issues around the mountain".

Mr. Peters said the Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy, Anthony Lynham, should "declare a water emergency" to allow for the suspension of commercial water extraction on Tamborine Mountain.

"Under the Water Act of 2000, which has been updated as of October 2019, we believe he has the power to essentially say there is a shortage of water that is threatening the well-being of people and the health of the people up here," Peters said.  "Ideally, we would like to see it end. For now, pause it at least until there's a break in this long-term drought."

He added, "The Queensland Government could enact a law to essentially stop the bottling of underground water today."

Mr. Lynham insists his department doesn't have the power to limit commercial water extraction.