Today in NSW Parliament, Ian Cohen revealed that the NSW Government is supporting private North Shore golf courses with funding ahead of assisting families to pay for rainwater tanks.
Mr Cohen asked the Minister for the Environment, John Robertson, whether he supported providing $3.47 million to six private golf courses in NSW to secure water efficiency savings. The money comes from the NSW Climate Change Fund. The Minister does support the decision.
“If the $3.47 million given to private golf courses was redirected towards the NSW Climate Change Fund Rainwater Tank rebate scheme, 6,940 family homes could be helped to install 7000-litre capacity rainwater tanks.”
“The Roseville Golf Club, the Northbridge Golf Club, the Pennant Hills Golf Club, the Toukley Golf Club and the North Ryde Golf Club are all recipients of public funds. Whilst I commend businesses for taking steps to make their water usage better, I don’t see why public funds should be used to subsidise exclusive private clubs.”
“It cost $3000 to join Roseville Golf Club and then $2550 annually. A few wealthy people are getting the advantage of a subsidy that effectively pays for the privilege of using a lot of water to pursue their leisure interest. These are funds that could be used to help people where water shortages are a real threat to livelihoods and ecosystems.”
“Golf courses’ alienation of land and use of chemicals, water and other resources to maintain pristine golfing conditions is increasingly criticised around the world. With this diversion of CCF money we are helping buoy up what is an unsustainable pastime.
“In September I revealed that the NSW Climate Change Fund had allocated $27 million in funding to businesses compared to $9 million for households, yet households are achieving similar energy and GHG total savings. If householders can deliver comparable reductions at a third of the cost of businesses they should be given priority under the Climate Change Fund.
“This habit of Labor Governments funding climate change adaptation schemes for business comes at the expense of families. The adjustment costs to families for climate change are not insignificant. In the light of this why doesn’t Mr Robertson help households by providing rainwater tanks and help take the pressure off families instead of subsidising elite golf clubs?
“Family households could use the funds that these private clubs are getting to install rainwater tanks or take other measures to capture and use water for more essential uses than watering golf greens.”
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