[Greens-Media] Tillegra Dam justification takes a walk on the wild side

[John Kaye]

Tillegra Dam justification takes a walk on the wild side
 
Media release: 21 September 2010
 
Documents uncovered by the Greens show that Hunter Water is using a unique and unrealistic drought security criterion to justify Tillegra Dam. ('Justification for Tillegra Dam 'unrealistic and absurd', Greens', Sydney Morning Herald, 21 September, page 5, http://bit.ly/smh100921)
 
Greens NSW MP John Kaye said: "A one in 10 million chance of needing to implement drought contingency measures is ridiculous.
 
"Hunter Water is using an absurd gold plating level of drought security to make the case for Tillegra. 
 
"It will impose an unnecessary economic and environmental burden on the Hunter region for very little real increase in security.
 
"Hunter Water needed to run the worst drought in history four times back-to-back to manufacture a case for this dam. The Department of Planning has forced them to admit that their planning risk criteria is a 100 times greater security than Sydney Water's.
 
"Planning to this unique level of drought security is driving the construction of a dam that will almost certainly never be needed.
 
"Any sensible measure of drought security would take Tillegra off the table.
 
"Premier Kristina Keneally should now step in and put the brakes on Hunter Water. 
 
"Before the community is forced to pay for Tillegra, they should at least be consulted on how they feel about losing $477 million to make only a marginal improvement in their supply security," 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