[Greens-Media] PARNELL: Desal = Water Price Slug

[Parnell]

Media Release
Wednesday 11th May 2011

Desal = Water Price Slug

The Government's foolhardy focus on super-costly desalinated water at the expense of better water supply alternatives continues to hurt SA households, say the Greens.

"Focusing on desalination is simply bad policy that will supercharge the water bills of South Australians for years," said Greens leader Mark Parnell MLC.

"Instead of using water price rises to fund more sustainable and cheaper water supply options including stormwater capture and re-use, demand management and recycling, we are left with giant water bills that will only increase further as the price of electricity rises.

"The Government's legacy for its high energy, high cost water supply option is ongoing cost of living pain for ordinary South Australians," he said.

The Government has announced today an increase in water prices of 26.3% on the average SA water bill, on top of an increase in the sewerage charge of 5.5 per cent for city customers and 6 per cent for country households.


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