Keep the restrictions, ditch the desal

Greens NSW MP John Kaye said: "Environmental flows into the Hawkesbury, Nepean and Avon rivers are welcome but weakening level 3 restrictions now while proceeding with the 250 ML per day plant would be poor economics and bad planning.
 
"As a long-term water supply option desalination makes no sense. 
 
"It is an expensive emergency measure that will soak up millions of dollars a year to run when storage levels are very healthy and likely to get even better.
 
"Sydney, Blue Mountains and Illawarra residents have responded well to the need to reduce water consumption, making the Kurnell plant irrelevant. 
 
"Behaviour patterns have changed in ways which will serve this city well through the next drought. Saving water is a much cheaper way of securing supplies than building an expensive and damaging desalination plant.
 
"Water Minister Rees cannot have it both ways.
 
"He claims the desalination plant is needed to provide for Sydney's population growth but he is considering easing the restrictions now that we are in a period of higher rainfall and improved storage inflows.
 
"If Sydney Water is  really planning for the longer term, then maintaining level 3 permanently will ensure that the habits of water conservation and efficiency become permanent.
 
"Continuing with the Kurnell construction will condemn Sydney Water customers to pay for at least two years of running the plant at full capacity, regardless of storage levels.
 
"The contract with the private operators Veolia mandates a two year proving period where the plant produces 250 mega litres per day.
 
"Perhaps Minister Rees really wants Sydney, Blue Mountains and Illawarra households to use more water to save him from the embarrassment of the desal plant running while the dams are overflowing," Dr Kaye said.
 
For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455