Government inaction cripples key program to save Sydney's water

Wednesday, 31 January 2007 21:40

TEC Director Mr Jeff Angel said “The State Government has been claiming long and loud that it is doing everything to conserve Sydney’s drinking water supply. Despite this it has failed to approve Water Savings Action Plans for the largest water users in Sydney, including some of its own government agencies”.

The Water Savings Order 2005, announced as part of the State Government’s Metropolitan Water Plan, requires that, within Sydney Water’s area of operation, businesses with a site using more than 50 million litres of water a year, all local councils and all NSW Government agencies which use at least 50 million litres of water a year at a site prepare Water Savings Action Plans. These plans, once submitted, must be approved by the Minister for Water Utilities.

Plans for business, councils and 19 State Government Agencies were due 31 March 2006 while a further 21 State Government Agency plans were required by 30 June 2006. More than 320 plans were required in all. While a majority of the plans have been submitted, only 40 have been approved. Of these 27 are for business and 13 for councils. Shockingly, no Water Savings Action Plans have been approved for any state government ggency.

“The government is charging headlong toward building a desalination plant while showing no real commitment to curbing its own water use or promoting water conservation amongst Sydney’s biggest water users. The failure to ensure implementation of Water Savings Action Plans is a damning indictment of the NSW Government’s management of Sydney’s water supply”, Mr Angel said.

TEC has called on the Government to expedite the water savings plans as an alternative to desalination, boost installation of rainwater tanks connected to toilets and washing machines, introduce permanent water conservation measures and do more on recycling.

“It is clear that there is still much that can be done to save water and find sustainable supply solutions”, Mr Angel said.