Iemma's desalination blunder comes home to roost

Dr Kaye said: "The Independent Pricing and Regulatory has awarded Sydney Water a 13 percent price rise, largely to fund the Kurnell plant.
 
"The Iemma government put politics before science and Sydney Water consumers will pay on average $203 a year more by 2011/12.
 
"The increase in household water bills could have been largely avoided if Premier Iemma had demonstrated a little courage and admitted he made a mistake after the first downpour came in June last year.
 
"Since then he has ignored warnings from water and climate experts that even if the drought returns the plant will not be needed for many years to come.
 
"Premier Iemma has pretended there have not been regular inflows that have boosted the total storages to about 65 percent.
 
"Water Minister Nathan Rees has tried to hide behind global warming arguments to say that Sydney needs desalination.
 
"Throughout 2006 and early 2007 the Iemma government was advised to not commit to the desalination plant until storage levels fell below 30%.
 
"They ignored that advice, and in a panicked decision in the lead up to last year's state election committed Sydney households to paying for desalination.
 
"The massive area of Warragamba's catchment and the huge capacity of its storage suggests that under many climate change scenarios, water yields could actually increase.
 
"Even if we experience more droughts after the current La Nina has run its course, infrequent but severe storms could top up the dam.
 
"The Premier's continued refusal to admit his error has now forced water consumers to pay for this white elephant," Dr Kaye said.
 
For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455