Desal Approval underlines Government incompetence - 16 November 2006

The announcement this afternoon of planning approval for the off again on again desalination plant at Kurnell is an indictment of the NSW Government’s incompetence on water issues, and makes a mockery of any commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to NSW Upper House Greens MP Ian Cohen.

“Planning Minister Frank Sartor claims that this plant will only be used if Sydney’s dam levels fall below 30%. They are currently just below 40%. That this is even a possibility is outrageous given that around 450 billion litres of this precious resource are flushed into the ocean each year,” said Mr Cohen.

“The Greens have consistently pushed for sustainable reuse options for our water supply. We are not the only ones. Various environmental and community groups and a myriad of experts and academics are singing from the same song sheet. A parliamentary inquiry comprising members from both major parties, along with my fellow Greens MP Sylvia Hale and myself as chair produced a report that was clear in its declaration that a desalination plant was unnecessary if the alternative options were properly utilised.

“The Government needs to make it a priority to staunch the wasteful flow emanating from our ocean outfalls. This water can be reused. Stormwater can be harvested. They need to make it as easy and cheap as possible for homes and businesses to install water tanks. There are any number of options that are not being used or, when they are, are utilised to only a fraction of their potential.

“Greenhouse gas emissions from the plant would be astronomical. This is why it was put on the back burner in the first place. The Government’s climate change credibility would be in tatters if it were built.

“Frank Sartor and the Government claim that this plant will only be necessary if water supply becomes critical. If that is the case then they would have no one to blame but themselves. A desalination plant built to address a critical water shortage while effluent pours into the ocean would be a monument to this Government’s incompetence on water issues,” concluded Mr Cohen.


Further Information: Michael Hidden 9230 3305 / 0431 320 085