[Greens-Media] Water vision going down the gurgler

[Claire ORourke]

Media Release							September 6, 2006

Water vision going down the gurgler

Sydneysiders could avoid tougher water restrictions that are on the cards for Brisbane if the New South Wales Government fully funded backyard water tanks, said Ian Cohen, Greens Upper House MP.

“Most of Sydney’s rainfall is over areas close to the coast, rather than the catchment,” Mr Cohen said.

“So, the answer could be as simple as moving the catchment to where the rain falls. The NSW Government could achieve this by funding the installation of water tanks.” 

“It might seem like a simple solution, and, frankly, it is. However the Iemma Government has put this idea, along with many others into the too-hard basket.

“The Government claims water tanks are too expensive, but the one-off cost would bring many years of benefit. Tanks would help relieve the burden on Sydney’s water supplies, and save household water bills.

“The State Government has already caved in to the whims of developers by watering down the BASIX program and is now scrambling with big infrastructure projects that promise a quick-fix for Sydney’s dwindling water.

“Plans to pump an extra 30 billion litres a year from the Shoalhaven River to Sydney will cause havoc to the area’s local communities and the environment. The Government will spend $120 million of taxpayers’ money on preparatory work for an energy-guzzling desalination plant by the end of this year.

“In the wash-up, the Government seems to have forgotten the 450 gigalitres of effluent that flows out to sea through Sydney’s ocean outfalls every year. That’s a lot of wasted water that could be re-used, if the Government had a strategic approach to Sydney’s water crisis.

“Sydneysiders have already shown they can take the lead in cutting water use in their homes and should be congratulated for their efforts. If high-level restrictions on water use were to become a reality for this city, it will be the fault of the NSW Government,” he said.

Further Information: Claire O’Rourke 0409 810 139 or 9230 3305