Environment Groups Release Water Plan for Sydney

Friday, 06 August 2004 10:00

"The plan is for an invisible dam, made up of conservation and recycling actions rather than one big massive structure. We believe it would be a better use of the several billion dollar price tag for a new dam.* Importantly it puts Sydney on a sustainable footing recognizing our drying climate, instead of reinforcing water guzzling habits," said Jeff Angel, Director of Total Environment Centre.

"Our proposal shares the load amongst the community and business - it is more directed to those who need to save water and creates big business opportunities in the recycling and water conservation industries. By not building a new dam, we diversify our water resources and harness the commitment to conservation and sustainability," Brooke Flanagan, Executive Officer of the Nature Conservation Council of NSW.

The plan calls for:
* rainwater tanks connected to toilet, laundry and outdoor uses, so that within 50 years half the houses have one - recognizing it rains more in Sydney than in the dams' water catchment;
* water conservation so that half the houses in Sydney are retrofitted within 50 years;
* permanent low level restrictions (eg, ban daytime use of sprinkler systems, hosing paths) for residential, commercial and public uses;
* recycling targets for industry, new development and existing areas (3% of annual consumption per year);
* 90% security of supply (meaning the likelihood of full scale restrictions is 10 years out of every 100 years).
These actions would be supported by two step pricing, a demand management fund and new planning requirements on single and multi-unit housing and commercial development. Water licensing of industry should also target recycling.

The Carr Government is expected to announce its water strategy for Sydney, this month.

A copy of the summary report can be downloaded from - www.tec.org.au or www.nccnsw.org.au
* In 1994 the Greiner/Murray government told the joint Select Committee on the Water Board that the Welcome Reef dam would cost $1.8 billion.