[Greens-Media] Water dumped to justify Tillegra Dam

[John Kaye]

Water dumped to justify Tillegra Dam
 
Media release: 6 September 2010
 
Evidence uncovered by the Greens and other opponents of Tillegra Dam shows that Hunter Water has deliberately run down its largest water storage in order to artificially inflate its case for $477 million project, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye. ('Dam critics cry foul over river flows in Hunter', Sydney Morning Herald 6 September 2010, page 5, http://bit.ly/smh100906
 
Dr Kaye said: "Hunter Water admitted it was struggling to justify Tillegra Dam at a time when its existing storages were close to full. 
 
"Then, suddenly, the pumps into Grahamstown Dam are turned off for two years.
 
"Water levels in their largest storage plummeted and they no longer faced the awkward reality of an abundance of water.
 
"Hunter Water has been deliberately manipulated the region's water supplies in order to remove the embarrassment of almost full dams.
 
"Turning the pumps off for two years and deliberately running down the storages would be an immoral and possibly illegal act. 
 
"The Greens will be moving in the NSW parliament this week to set up an inquiry into allegations that Hunter Water violated its own operating procedures for political convenience.
 
"Hunter Water have damaged their already terminally weak case for Tillegra.
 
"By allowing almost the volume of two Tillegra dams run past their pumps into Grahamstown, the utility has provided yet more evidence that there is no need for a new storage for the Lower Hunter," Dr Kaye said.
 
For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455 
 
 
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John Kaye
Greens member of the NSW Parliament
phone: (02) 9230 2668
fax: (02) 9230 2586
mobile: 0407 195 455
email: john.kaye at parliament.nsw.gov.au
web: www.johnkaye.org.au
 
mail: Parliament House, Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000