The Carr Government’s water recycling plan announced today is the equivalent of crawling when it should be running towards initiatives that would make Sydney a city with sustainable water use, Greens MLC Ian Cohen said.
Sprinkler on Garden“Tens of millions of litres of stormwater and of sewage are there to be harvested but it will continue to simply drain away and cause pollution because the Carr Government has chosen to take only kiddie steps and ignore the wastewater already created by 4.5 million residents.
“Targeting new homes is only the beginning and, while the Premier has mentioned future action, the city’s crisis is happening now.”
Mr Cohen said water saving initiatives - such as recycling stormwater and sewage, more efficient toilets and permanent low-level water restrictions - would save more water than the Carr Government’s 25-year water plan for Sydney produces.
Mr Cohen said the Premier also continues to excuse Sydney Water from greater effort or accountability for its incredibly bad record on recycling water.
“Sydney Water failed to meet its demand management targets in 2000 and 2001 and it is on track to fail in 2004/2005. It discharges more than 450 gigalitres of wastewater as sewage effluent each year but has managed to recycle only 11 gigalitres.”
“Sydney’s water future will not be saved simply by spending more money sinking new bores, deepwater pumping and building new pipes to the Shoalhaven River.
“Sydney could have a sustainable water supply but that would require much greater effort to conserve and recycle water than this government has so far made.”
Further Information: Paul Sheridan, 0410 516 656
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