WATER PRICING CHANGES A GOOD START BUT CAP ON SYDNEY WATER MUST BE STRICTER
Thursday, 25 September 2003 10:00
Conservationists have welcomed today's announcement of strict new water pricing measures to encourage water conservation but warned that a 600 gigalitre a year limit on extractions by Sydney Water will do nothing to save the stressed Hawkesbury-Nepean river system.
Total Environment Centre (TEC) Urban Campaigner Mr Leigh Martin said, "The new pricing arrangements are an important first step to improving water conservation, however, a limit of 500 gigalitres per year should be placed on Sydney Water to force them to invest in water conservation and recycling schemes and provide desperately needed environmental flows for the Hawkesbury-Nepean river system".
With current water use exceeding long term sustainable supply there is a pressing need for a long term change in water use patterns. Current water use for Sydney is 630 Gigalitres per year while sustainable yield from supplies (allowing for environmental flows for the stressed Hawkesbury-Nepean River system) is 500 GL per year.
"The 600GL limit proposed by the government will ensure the continued deterioration of Sydney's major river system. An extra 100GL of water must be set aside immediately for an effective environmental flows regime", Mr Martin said.
Setting a tougher limit of 500GL per year before financial penalties are imposed on Sydney Water would also increase the viability of new water conservation and recycling schemes by increasing the size of the market.
"The government is hoping to attract private investment in recycled water schemes. For this to occur the potential reuse market must be large enough to ensure the profitability of reuse projects. Only a tougher limit on extractions from the dams will create a large enough market to attract significant investment", Mr Martin said.
For further information
Contact
:
Leigh Martin - Urban Campaigner
Phone
:
61 2 9299 5599
Email
:
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:
http://www.tec.org.au/
