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Desalination
Desalination: a $1.8bn white elephant
Premier Iemma’s desalination plant proposal for Kurnell is bad news for the environment, the community and the economy.
The government is proceeding against all expert advice, despite Sydney’s water storage level being over 50% full. The plant will be a:
- massive tax on consumers: households paying an extra $97 per year for water on average. That's a 15% increase.
- climate killer: causes 945 thousand tonnes of global warming CO2 each year (equiv of 22 thousand cars).
- potential white elephant: costs $1.8 billion but unlikely to be needed. Water restrictions, rainwater tanks and recycling are more cost effective and much lower risk.
- suburb smasher: streets ripped up and residents driven from their houses to build the new pipes.
- Botany Bay wrecker: marine ecology vandalised to build the pipe from Kurnell to connect to the water system.
It’s time to stop the desalination plant and make Sydney a world leader in water efficiency, tanks, storm water use and recycling and re-use.
The Greens NSW have been actively campaigning in the NSW Parliament and through the media to highlight community opposition to the NSW Government's plans.
The Greens NSW strongly support the ongoing work of affected communities to oppose the desalination plant, and will continue to call the government to account. We encourage you to take action and lend your support to the campaign to put a hold to the desalination plant.
Take Action!
Write to Premier Iemma at NSW Parliament House, Macquarie St. Sydney NSW 2000 and demand he put a stop to the desalination plant and commit instead to sustainable, affordable solutions to Sydney's long-term water supply problems. You can contact the Premier's office by phone on 9228 5239 or by email at thepremier@www.nsw.gov.au.
Attend the public meeting to put the Kurnell desalination plant on hold, which will be held on Wednesday 12th September at 6.30pm, at the University of Technology. More details below.
Collect signatures for the petition in opposition to the Kurnell desalination plant. Click HERE to download a copy of the petition or contact the office on 02 9230 2668.
To find out about how to assist the campaigns being coordinate by other groups visit the Nature Conservation Council website at www.nccnsw.org.au/desal.
For more information:
- See The Greens NSW Urban Water Policy
Media:
- For all John's media releases about desalination, click here
- ABC: Desal plant to cost $1m a week
- SMH: Idle desalination plant to cost $50m a year
Recent Campaign Activity
Public meeting to halt the Kurnell desalination plant, Wed 12th September
Save money! Save Energy! Save Botany Bay! A public meeting will be held on Wednesday 12th September at 6.00pm for 6.30pm start at University Hall, Harris St, University of Technology, Broadway.
The meeting will hear from leading experts and environment and community
speakers about the impact of the plant and what it will mean for Sydney. With
construction already beginning on the plant at Kurnell, this will be one of the
last opportunities to put a stop to this expensive and environmentally damaging
project. DOWNLOAD a flyer for the meeting.
The Greens NSW are supporting the meeting, which has been organised by the Sydney Alliance to Avert Desalination. The Alliance is being coordinated with the support of the Nature Conservation Council, the Sutherland Shire Environment Centre and the Botany Bay & Catchment Alliance. For more information visit the www.nccnsw.org.au/desal.
Greens highlight desalination madness with tank prank
On Saturday 4th August the Greens travelled across the Sutherland Shire to highlight the foolishness of the Iemma government's approach to water management and the building the Kurnell desalination plant.
