[Greens-Media] Sydney downpour highlights foolish desalination decision

[John Kaye]

Sydney downpour highlights foolish desalination decision

Media release: 9 June 2007

Greens NSW MP John Kaye today called for the Iemma government to 
freeze work on the desalination plant in response to heavy rains in 
the Sydney basin and the chance of good inflows to the catchment.

Dr Kaye said: "The NSW government's desalination plant is looking 
more and more like a $2 billion white elephant.

"As rain pours down over Sydney, storm water tanks would have been a 
much cheaper and less environmentally damaging way of securing 
Sydney's water supplies.

"If predicted rains fall in the Warragamba catchment today, storage 
levels will be significantly boosted.

"A winter of storms and good rainfalls would make the desalination 
plant completely unnecessary.

"The Iemma government's fixation on desalination will have wasted $2 billion.

"Water users are being forced to gamble on the massive Kurnell plant 
being needed, when they could be putting their money into water tanks 
and efficient appliances that would give them a long term return on 
lower water bills.

"Water Utilities Minister Nathan Rees has had long enough in his 
portfolio to undo the mistakes of his predecessors.

"This weekend would be good time to convene a crisis meeting of his 
senior advisers, admit that the desalination plant is not needed and 
work with the community to develop more sustainable and lower risk 
drought response mechanisms and long term water supply options.

"The public would welcome the honesty of politician admitting an 
error and working to get it right. Mr Rees would only grow in stature 
if he had the courage to do this.

"While work continues to proceed on the desalination plant, the 
government is leaving itself open to a $2 billion headache that will 
continue to undermine its economic and environmental credentials for 
years to come," Dr Kaye said.

For more information:   John Kaye 0407 195 455


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John Kaye
phone: 0407 195 455
email: john at nsw.greens.org.au
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