[Greens-Media] Warragamba catchment soaking should put Sydney desal on ice

[John Kaye]

Warragamba catchment soaking should put Sydney desal on ice

Media Release 17 June 2007

Strong inflows into Sydney’s water storages increase the risk that the
Kurnell desalination plant will be a massive waste of money, according
to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.

Dr Kaye said: “The Iemma government should be celebrating the productive
rain that fell in the catchment over the last 24 hours.

“Instead, their headlong rush to build a desalination plant at Kurnell
has turned the good news into a massive economic headache.

“Sydney’s storage levels are now predicted to hit the 45% mark in the
next few days with a good chance of passing 50% before the end of the
week.

“The rational course of action for Water Utilities Minister Nathan Rees
would be to impose an immediate moratorium on all construction,
including site preparation works at Kurnell and the pipeline under
Botany Bay.

“The government’s own Water Management Plan for Sydney saw desalination
as an emergency measure, to be built only when storage levels fell below
30%.

“We are now well above the trigger level and unlikely to be anywhere
near it for at least 12 months.

“The Premer’s fixation on building the plant is creating a $2 billion
risk. If the current rains continue, the desalination plant will sit
idle, soaking up important capital that could have been spent on more
cost-effective long term supply options or on improving Sydney’s public
transport system.

“The government is rapidly heading towards the point of no return on the
Kurnell plant.

“The sensible thing to do would be to turn back before it is too late,
put the plant on hold and wait to see the effects of the winter rains on
water storage levels. Even if the rain stops now, the current inflows
have given us a breathing space to assess and implement other drought
response options if they are needed.  

“The Iemma government has one last chance to avoid an economic and
environmental catastrophe,” Dr Kaye said.

For more information:   John Kaye 0407 195 455