Water, water everywhere and not a drop from Tillegra

Dr Kaye said: “Not only does the downpour demonstrate the benefits of household and industry rainwater tanks but it is also part of a storm front that has boosted the main storages.

 “Chichester is now at capacity and overflowing while Grahamstown was at 94.4% before the most recent storm.

 “Total storages were at almost 95% and are now likely to be much higher after yesterday’s rain.

 “The Lower Hunter is awash with water, while much of the state is in drought.

 “Spending $406 million and probably much more on supposedly ‘drought proofing’ Newcastle’s water supply is yet again proved to be a massive waste of  money.

 “Yet again the main storages have done what they were designed to do and catch runoff from the big storms.

 “Yet again the ‘we’ll all be rooned’ drought panic of Hunter Water has been exposed.

 “Newcastle households are about to be forced to pay for Tillegra while rain is pouring into the existing catchments and off their roofs.

 “Hunter water should tell the Rees government there is no use for Tillegra and the project should be abandoned,” Dr Kaye said.

For more information:            John Kaye 0407 195 455

Dam storage levels as at 12:30 pm 17 February 2009: 

• Grahamstown Dam - 94.4%
• Chichester Dam - 100%
• Tomago Sandbeds - 100%
• Anna Bay Sandbeds - 67.9%
• TOTAL - 94.5%

(Source: http://www.hunterwater.com.au/ )