Howard Government backs Greens move against desalination plant - 11 October 2005

Greens MLC Ian Cohen said he was pleased that his motion on the proposed desalination plant was backed by the Federal Government in the Senate this afternoon.

“I have introduced the same motion into the Legislative Council. I hope that it will also pass,” Mr Cohen said.

“The motion is critical of the NSW government’s rush to proceed with the desalination plant at Kurnell without proper environmental assessment.

“Pressure is mounting on the Iemma Government for it to undertake a rigorous environmental assessment of the desalination plant proposal.

“For the NSW Government to be outperformed on the environment on this issue by John Howard isn’t just embarrassing for the Premier, it’s blight on the whole state”.

The motion (moved by Greens Senator Kerry Nettle) passed by the Senate and introduced into the Legislative Council this afternoon reads:

a) congratulates the federal government for extending the time for submissions on whether the proposed NSW desalination plant on the Kurnell peninsula requires full assessment under the Environment Protection Biodiversity and Conservation Act; and

b) notes that the federal government will consider the public submissions in determining whether the proposed NSW desalination plant on the Kurnell peninsula requires full assessment and approval under the Environment Protection Biodiversity and Conservation Act.

c) Calls on the NSW Government to ensure that proper and thorough environmental assessments are undertaken on the proposal before construction proceeds.

“For the government to proceed with this dirty, expensive, greenhouse intensive, locally unpopular plant is reckless when Sydney’s water needs can be meet through recycling, storm water use and demand management,” Mr Cohen said.