[Greens-Media] O'Farrell washes hands of Labor's desal blunder

[John Kaye]

O'Farrell washes hands of  Labor's desal blunder 
 
Media release: 17 May 2011
 
Despite Sydney Water admitting that households will pay $204 million a year for the Kurnell desalination plant even when it does not run, Premier Barry O'Farrell refuses to rescue the state from a very bad deal, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye. ('$700,000 a day bill for desalination plant' Daily Telegraph 17 May, page 5, http://j.mp/dt110517)
 
Dr Kaye said: "Sydney households are swelling the coffers of the private operator Veolia to support an unnecessary and expensive supply option.
 
"The Iemma government panicked and went ahead with the plant without justification.
 
"It has turned out to be the expensive white elephant that critics said it would be.
 
"Sydney, Wollongong and Blue Mountains households would be much better off if the plant were closed down and the contract with Veolia cancelled.
 
"Premier Barry O'Farrell claims it would be too expensive to buy out the contract but he knows that compensation could be limited by an act of parliament.
 
"Instead of blaming his Labor predecessors, Mr O'Farrell should shut the plant down, sell the membranes and develop water security plans based on increased recycling and efficiency measures.
 
"The Coalition is forcing Sydney households to pay $560,000 a day in availability charges when the dams hold much more than five years of water.
 
"The Greens will be using parliament to force the O'Farrell government to explain why it is refusing to ease the pressure on household water bills," 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