"The desalination gambit was distorting sustainable urban water management for Sydney. The large investment that would have been required for desalination was always going to create a compelling economic reason to use more and more desal and invest less in recycling. The government is now moving to get the priorities right," said Jeff Angel, Director of the Centre.

"Both desal and the Tallawa Dam raising were environmentally destructive projects that did nothing to help us conserve water, they just locked Sydney into a continuing cycle of waste. Recycling which is at a meagre 2% of water use, should be massively increased. A target of 20% by 2012 should be set - there is clearly a lot of public support and private sector interest to build up recycling"

"The Premier has responded to the facts and public views. While we would have preferred complete elimination of desal and look forward to this, the alternatives outlined by him and an aggressive recycling program should be its death knell, over time."

"Total Environment Centre will continue to work with government, stakeholders and the private sector to give Sydney an environmentally sustainable water cycle", Mr Angel said.