Water Bill acknowledges Sydney Water’s failures - 16 November 2006

The Water Industry Competition Bill, which passed through Parliament today, indicates the failure of both the NSW Government and Sydney Water to adequately address the problem of ensuring a sustainable water supply for Sydney, said NSW Upper House Greens MP Ian Cohen.

Mr Cohen was also Chair of a parliamentary inquiry into “A Sustainable Water Supply for Sydney” earlier this year.

“For too long we have seen a dinosaur mentality within Sydney Water. Much of the evidence presented to the inquiry was highly critical of it,” Mr Cohen said.

A PENGO (Peak Environment Non-Government Organisations) report claimed that ‘Sydney Water’s progress toward sustainability is too slow, with weak demand management and recycling strategies and implementation. To meet its legislative obligations, Sydney Water must act as an effective advocate for sustainable water use’.”

“This report also said that they had made unacceptably poor progress against water conservation and recycling targets in the operating licence. This included the 1999 effluent recycling targets being abandoned; demand management targets not being met; very low levels of water recycling; and the discharge of 450 gigalitres of wastewater as sewage effluent each year,” said Mr Cohen

“For years I have railed against the once use only mentality of Sydney Water and the NSW Government, reaffirmed by this week’s announcement of a dam in the Hunter. I have consistently condemned the culture of pipelines that reduces recycling and demand management to boutique alternatives rather than being the core of our water supply options.

“It is reasonable in light of Sydney Water’s many failures to allow private operators access to the sewage system for recycling purposes, but this bill also allowed privatisation of sewerage and water services as well as recycling. It allowed private operators to build and own infrastructure.

“It was gratifying to see the Government accept the Greens amendment to the accompanying Central Coast Water Corporations Bill, which led to the insertion of “to maximise water conservation, demand management, and the use of recycled water” in the objects of the bill.

“However, in light of this Government’s many failures with private sector arrangements and the disasters that have resulted from privatisation of water delivery overseas, The Greens were unable to support the Water Industry Competition Bill,” said Mr Cohen.

Further Information: Michael Hidden 9230 3305 / 0431 320 085