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Federal threat to desalination plant in NSW
Proposals for a $2 billion
desalination plant on the Kurnell Peninsula could be stalled or even
stopped as the Federal Government sets in train a process to
overrule the state's planning authority.
Wendy Frew - Sydney Morning
Herald
Citing environmental concerns, the Commonwealth
yesterday extended the time allowed for public submissions in
what appears to be an attempt to gather ammunition to block the
controversial project.
The State Government is already battling public opposition to
the plan. There is also widespread scepticism about the
environmental and economic benefits of the project.
The local federal member, Bruce Baird, said if a trigger could
be found for Commonwealth environmental laws to be used, the
project would be subjected to the kind of "rigorous
environmental scrutiny" and public consultation that the NSW
Government "has been so eager to avoid".
He accused the state of rushing ahead with pre-approval and
construction of the plant "before its design and environmental
impacts have been addressed".
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"One of the greatest concerns I have with the desalination plant
is the NSW Labor Government's moves to have the project excluded
from any rigorous environmental scrutiny through its designation
as 'critical infrastructure'," Mr Baird said.
The NSW Planning Minister, Frank Sartor, described the federal
attempt at intervention as "a dangerous thing" that could
"fetter the State Government's ability to provide water for
Sydneysiders".
"If the Federal Government wants to be responsible for Sydney
running out of water, good luck," he said. "We are not
suspending environmental assessments, and they will be
thoroughly done."
Mr Baird's comments were nothing more than "posturing", Mr
Sartor said.
The federal Environment Minister, Ian Campbell, said his
decision to extend the deadline to November 1 was made in
response to requests from concerned groups for more time to
prepare their submissions.
Those concerns will be considered along with detailed analysis
of the proposal to determine whether federal law could be
invoked.
The Commonwealth's Environment Protection and Biodiversity
Conservation Act (1999) provides for the protection of some
areas of national environmental significance, such as world and
national heritage properties, wetlands of international
importance, and habitats of migratory and threatened species.
Development proposals that are likely to have a significant
effect on these areas must be assessed and approved by the
Federal Government, Senator Campbell's office said.
"This proposed plant will ultimately remain the primary
responsibility of the NSW Government," Senator Campbell said.
"However, in the event that federal law is applicable to the
proposal, it will undergo a full and proper environmental
assessment with full public consultation."
With Sydney's dams at just under 40 per cent of capacity, the
State Government hopes to have a plant operating within the next
few years, supplying up to a third of the city's drinking water.
Actions you can take
Let the NSW Government know you want
other options put on the table and genuine public consultation
about how we can address water supply in Sydney.
Write to:
Premier of NSW, Morris Lemma,
thepremier@www.nsw.gov.au
and
Minister for Planning, The Hon. Frank Sartor,
office@sartor.minister.nsw.gov.au
Keep up to date with NCC’s Why Waste Water? campaign.
Join NCC's mailing list by emailing Cecile van der Burgh (cvanderburgh@nccnsw.org.au).
You can also find further information on the NCC web site,
www.nccnsw.org.au, or
contact
by phone on 9279 2466.
WHY
WASTE WATER?
Sydney’s Water Crisis – Desalination is NOT the answer
Download this PDF from the Nature Conservation Council of NSW
As you are probably aware, many parts of Australia are in the midst of
extended drought periods
– Sydney is no exception. With only 2% of Sydney’s water being recycled,
the time has come to
consider the long term future of Sydney’s water supply.
The NSW Government has recently announced that they plan to build a
desalination plant that
will produce 500 million litres of water per day. The government must
consider other alternatives
first before committing Sydney to an expensive piece of infrastructure
that will not guarantee a
secure water supply.
What’s wrong with Desalination?
Energy
» Huge amounts of energy are required to convert salt water to drinking
water. The amount of
greenhouse gas emissions created from a 500 million litre plant could
equate to an
additional 250 000 cars on Sydney’s roads each year.
Energy for desalination = increased greenhouse gas
emissions = Climate Change = extended drought periods and
extreme weather conditions
Wasted Water
» Desalination does not solve the problem of large amounts of drinking
water being flushed
out to sea every day.
» We all want to save water, yet the government is imposing desalination
onto the community
instead of working with the community to develop real water saving
solutions.
Desalination does not save water
Marine Ecosystems
» The process of desalination will require large volumes of sea water to
be sucked into
operating equipment for processing. There is a possibility that marine
organisms, such as
fish, would be trapped and killed in this process.
» The by-product of desalination is highly concentrated brine which will
be discharged into the
ocean, potentially affecting the delicate balance of local marine
ecosystems.
Desalination could result in significant losses of marine organisms and
potentially alter the local marine ecosystem
Cost
» A desalination plant that will produce 500 million litres of water per
day will cost the State
Government $2 billion to construct (excluding operating costs).
Desalinated water will
therefore be more expensive for consumers than any other water supply
system.
A desalination plant is a $2 billion bandaid we do not need
Its time to rethink the way we manage our water
What are the alternatives?
» Recycling – The technology exists to recycle water - cities all over
the world have been
running successful recycling programs for years. Why can’t we do the
same?
» Harvesting storm water – 450 billion litres of rain water are washed
down the drain into
our harbour, streams and rivers every year. This water could be
harvested, cleaned and reused.
» Permanent low level water restrictions on outdoor water uses – Most
Sydney-siders
now recognise that we live in a dry continent and water is a scarce
resource. Using less
water should become our way of life.
» Rainwater tanks and water efficient appliances – The government should
be more
supportive of ongoing rebates for water tanks and water efficient
devices. They should also
assist each household with the process that permits people to install
such devices.
» Water pricing – Currently we pay little more than $1 for each tonne of
water we use. Prices
should be amended to reflect the true value of water, including the
environmental costs.
What can you do?
The NSW Government has clearly stated that the need for a desalination
plant is “too important
to debate” and aims to have a desalination plant constructed at Kurnell
by 2007.
