NSW GOVERNMENT DESAL PLAN BASED ON SCARE TACTICS AND POLITICAL EXPEDIENCY
Media Release 19 January, 2007
NSW government desal plan based on scare tactics and political expediency
The NSW Government move to introduce the desalination plant at Kurnell in the next 8 10 weeks is pure political expediency based on scare tactics and Sydneysiders must voice their objection to the plant, Clean up Australia Chairman Ian Kiernan AO said today.
"It's obvious an election quick fix solution has been chosen. The NSW Government should allocate the money for a desalination plant to long term solutions to the water crisis. Their focus should be on managing our water resources by promoting water reuse and recycling."
The Government could not have selected a more costly source of water, in both monetary and environmental terms, than attempting desalination, according to Mr Kiernan.
"We're all learning to live with the problem of climate change, and desalination is an energy intensive process. The desalination plant will produce enough green house gasses to increase Australia¹s emissions by 20%. That's equivalent to an extra 200,000 cars on our roads."
Mr Kiernan said there are alternative solutions.
"There is no single solution to Sydney's water crisis. To have a secure reliable water supply the city must get smarter in how it uses water. The Government needs to have the courage to get the right scheme and use wastewater recycling. If we can take the salt out of salt water, we can equally clean up waste water. Saying its too difficult doesn't wash."
In a major community campaign run last year to stop the plant, there was an overwhelming negative response from the public for the desalination plant.
ENDS
Media: Gemma Swart 0414 873 291.
Ian Kiernan is available for interview
