desalination will cost us dearly

Samantha Dunn – Upper House candidate for Eastern Victoria
Neil Rankine – Lower House candidate for Bass

“The only time the true price of desal water will be revealed to Melburnians, is when it arrives on their bills,” said Greens upper house candidate Samantha Dunn as she joined with Neil Rankine, candidate for Bass on the steps of parliament at Watershed Victoria's, 'Scrap the Desal' rally. “Only then will Victorians realise they’ve been duped by Brumby and his Ministers into believing the desalination plant is the answer to Melbourne’s water woes”, said Samantha.














Samantha Dunn and Neil Rankine at the Scrap the Desal Rally on the steps on parliament.

The Greens know there are much better options for securing water for Melbourne, it rains more in Melbourne than what Melburnians consume. A recent 2007 study found “rainwater tanks are five times more energy efficient than desalination plants. Most Australian houses are suitable for a rainwater tanks and in Melbourne 72% of existing houses have potential for a rainwater tank whilst fewer than 6% of the houses in Melbourne have water tanks.”



















From left to right: Sue Pennicuik - Greens MLC for Southern Metropolitan, Samantha Dunn - Greens candidate for Eastern Victoria, Greg Barber - Greens MLC for Northern Metropolitan and Neil Rankine - Greens candidate for Bass.

“People are starting to realise that the government is making us pay dearly for fresh water, produced in the most expensive and carbon intense way, only to have it flushed down our toilets. There is more than enough recycled water available to flush every toilet in Melbourne and run most businesses, but at the moment this precious resource is being flushed out to sea”, said Mr Rankine.

The Greens have a sensible water policy to secure Melbourne’s future water supply. Water conservation, re-use and recycling should be prioritised over energy and capital-intensive strategies such as seawater desalination or long-distance pumping. It is possible for our cities and towns to use a diverse range of water sources including tanks, urban storm water and recycled wastewater, to achieve water supply security and waterway health.

“We can pay out the Brumby government's contracts with the desalination consortium, secure our water supplies and still be better off, according to Kenneth Davidson, former economics editor for The Age newspaper. Water supplies can be secured from recycling already underway and from stormwater harvesting projects as upgrades to Melbourne's stormwater infrastructure is undertaken”, said Mr Rankine.

The desalination plant will create 1.2million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions during operation. It will generate an additional 70,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions from decomposing waste from the plant. It will intake 380,000 small marine organisms per second whilst discharging 8,800 litres of brine per second.

“Not only is this an economic disaster for the family budget it is an environmental disaster for Victoria’s coastline,” said Samantha.

“The desalination plant will cost tax payers dearly. Not only in a $5.1 billion construction bill and escalating water costs. It will dump 50,000 tonnes of toxic waste every year and secure big profits for overseas companies - why would we want it?” concluded Samantha.

phillip island talks sustainability

It was great to talk to Phillip Island community members along with Neil Rankine, Greens Lower House candidate for Bass, at the Sustainability Festival in Cowes.
















Samantha Dunn and Neil Rankine talk sustainability down at Phillip Island.

Community members were keen to speak to Neil and myself about the lack of infrastructure at a local level, but at a broader level about the lack of action on Climate Change.

The desalination plant in Wonthaggi dominated conversation, it would be the issue that people were keenly concerned about, recognising that there were far more sensible water solutions for Melbourne.

I heard more than once, people say "I've voted Labor all my life, but this time I'm not going to". The Greens got a terrific welcome from locals who are looking for accountability and innovation from government.

More and more people are seeing that Greens values are mainstream values and that we offer a positive plan for Victoria.

the true price of desal

The only time the true price of desal water will be revealed to Melburnians, is when it arrives on their bills. Only then will Victorians realise they’ve been duped by Brumby and his Ministers into believing the desalination plant is the answer to Melbourne’s water woes.

The Greens know there are much better options for securing water for Melbourne, it rains more in Melbourne than what Melburnians consume. A recent 2007 study found “rainwater tanks are five times more energy efficient that desalination plants…Most Australian houses are suitable for a rainwater tanks…in Melbourne 72% of existing houses have potential for a rainwater tank….fewer than 6% of the houses in Melbourne have water tanks.”

The Greens have a sensible water policy to secure Melbourne’s future water supply. Water conservation, re-use and recycling should be prioritised over energy and capital-intensive strategies such as seawater desalination or long-distance pumping. It is possible for our cities and towns to use a diverse range of water sources including tanks, urban storm water and recycled wastewater, to achieve water supply security and waterway health.

The desalination plant will create 1.2million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions during operation. It will generate an additional 70,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions from decomposing waste from the plant. It will intake 380,000 small marine organisms per second whilst discharging 8,800 litres of brine per second. Not only is this an economic disaster for the family budget it is an environmental disaster for Victoria’s coastline.

The desalination plant will cost tax payers dearly. Not only in a $5.1 billion construction bill and escalating water costs. It will dump 50,000 tonnes of toxic waste every year and secure big profits for overseas companies - why would we want it?

Written in response to Kenneth Davidson's article: http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/time-to-come-clean-on-the-cost-of-water-20100530-wndy.html

media release date: 24 Aug

Desalination debacle – Victoria’s Unsustainable Water Future

Brumby’s lack of water vision condemned;

“The Brumby government is setting us up for an unsustainable water future, said Samantha Dunn, Greens candidate for Eastern Victoria after hearing Neil Rankine Vice President of Watershed Victoria speak at the recent Country Greens Network forum in Leongatha. Neil was speaking on the proposed desalination plant in Wonthaggi.

“Mr Brumby has turned his back on sustainable, energy efficient water solutions for Melbourne, said Samantha, “The focus should be on water tanks, stormwater capture and recycling for our city.

Neil Rankine said “At the last election we were promised a sustainable water future, involving efficiencies, the closure of polluting ocean outfalls, and a partnering with the community to achieve desirable outcomes.

“We now find our Government is abandoning huge quantities of recycled water, they are spending hundreds of millions of dollars to produce class-A water at the Eastern Treatment Plant, only to pump it out to sea at an existing outfall.

“Worse still, we are to pay through our water bills for a $4.8 billion desalination factory, which will create yet another polluting outfall at Wonthaggi.

Samantha said, “Melbournians have shown their willingness to change their habits and use less water but the Brumby government is ignoring the community’s conservation of water.“With the desalination plant churning out 150 gigalitres (150 billion litres) of water a year, the government has signalled that there will no longer be a need for water conservation, leaving Melburnians with the most energy intensive, environmentally unfriendly and expensive water conceivable.”

After winning the election in 2006 our Government has not worked with the people of Victoria in coming to its current position on water supply, said Neil, “Will they now at least give the people some confidence in the integrity of their chosen options?

Watershed Victoria is calling for a transparent environmental monitoring program, with the ability for public scrutiny and input, prior to contracts being signed off by Government.

Neil said, “Ongoing and transparent monitoring, of this project, and Government’s actions to implement better water supply options into the future, will be essential to restore the people’s confidence in our democracy.”

desal comes to yarra ranges

Just recently I learnt that pipe works for the Desalination Plant in Wonthaggi would be coming through a small part of the Shire of Yarra Ranges in order to deliver desalinated water to Cardinia Reservoir.

To read on visit my Councillor blog

anti desal rally and wake

poor water policy for victoria

In a time when the focus should be on water recycling, water tanks, upgrading aging infrastructure, stormwater capture and mandatory water sensitive design why do we have a government hell bent on poor water policy for Victoria?

The message of water conservation has been well heeded by Melburnians, people have shown their willingness to change their habits and live more sustainably. But with the government emphasis on the desalination plant, which will supply 150 gigalitres (150 billion litres) of water, government has signalled that there will no longer be a need for water conservation, an appalling response, given the substantial environmental consequences.

A $3.5 billion desalination plant, $2 billion being underwritten by the state government, causing untold environmental damage, consuming huge amounts of energy, a $1 billion pipeline which steals water from the farmers and a river system that is already stressed after 13 years of drought – this is not good water policy for Victoria.

This week was a dark week for Victorians opposed to the desalination plant in Wonthaggi. A pristine coastal environment will be trashed, thousands of marine organisms destroyed, more than 1.4 million tonnes of greenhouse gases will be emitted during its construction.

Victorians want sensible, sustainable water solutions to secure our water future.

no desalination plant for victoria

I sent this letter to the Premier and various politicians today (see below). As our water crisis deepens we do not see leadership from our government.

We can secure water for Victoria, but desalination plants and pipelines are not a step in the right direction.

Dear Premier Brumby and other Parliamentarians,

I write to express my concern about the proposed desalination plant in Wonthaggi, Victoria. Given the environmental damage, massive greenhouse gas emissions generated from the desalination plant it is time to rethink water policy for the people of Victoria. Compounding the water crisis is the lack of water flow for the nearly completed North South Pipeline and the continued loss of water from years of logging in Melbourne's water catchments.

Not keen on the idea of drinking recycled water? Perhaps it is time for a serious rethink for Melbourne.

The offspring and feedstock of the sea creatures listed below, and some of the creatures themselves (penguins, salmon trout, crayfish, gulls) are small enough to fit through the grate at the end of the 4-metre wide intake pipe of the proposed Desalination Plant.

Whales Dolphins Penguins Octopus Seals Salmon Crayfish

Their future is looking bleak when they are sucked into the intake pipe along with 380,000 small marine organisms per second, crushed and sieved through potential drinking water, then dumped as landfill, at 50 tonnes per day.

Adding to this environmental devastation will be 8000 litres of toxic effluent per second, discharged onto a rock platform, now abundant with marine life, just 1km off the now pristine Williamson's Beach.

Just a few kilometres around the coast from Williamsons Beach, where the government plans to build the desalination plant, is this......

http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/1park_display.cfm?park=75

the magnificent Bunurong Marine and Coastal Park.

Mr Brumby and other members of the Victorian ALP,
- You didn't announce desal before the last election, in fact your leader of the time said "Recycling and conservation will secure Melbourne’s water supply ... The energy generation [of a desalination plant] is enormous, the intrusion on the community is enormous and, of course, it’s extraordinarily expensive ... really, what a hoax it is. We’re into long term solutions."
- You haven't released a business case
- You didn't test it against alternatives during the EES
- You don't have a mandate
- It will add to climate change & pollute our precious coastline
- Conservation, recycling and sustainable sources of water are what we want.



















· With Melbourne's water capacity at only 26% and dropping, the time for rolling out the water tanks and dual-flush cisterns throughout Melbourne is NOW! The time for diverting recycled water from the Eastern Treatment Plant to the La Trobe Valley is NOW, it makes sense, it is not too expensive, your reported business case cost $3.9 billion doesn't stack up.

· The time for North-South Pipeline and large-scale Desalination is NEVER!

What we want from government is sensible water policy to secure Melbourne’s future water supply.

No pipeline, no desal plant, no logging our water catchments.

Recycling, upgrading aging infrastructure, mandatory water sensitive design, water efficiencies/conservation, stormwater capture and water tanks are our water future.

I urge the Victorian Government to abandon its poorly devised 'Water Plan'.

Do not sign contracts for the Victorian Desalination Plant. I look forward to your response to these matters I have raised.

This was sent to:
John Brumby, Tim Holding, Maxine Morand, Gavin Jennings, Ted Baillieu, Peter Ryan, Justin Madden, Greg Barber, Candy Broad, Peter Hall, Kaye Darveniza, Matthew Guy, David Koch, Jaala Pulford, Gordon Rich-Phillips, Philip Davis, Damian Drum, Wendy Lovell, John Lenders, Edward O'Donohue, Sue Pennicuik, Gayle Tierney, Peter Kavanagh, Brian Tee, Bob Brown, Kevin Rudd, Peter Garrett, Malcolm Turnbull, Greg Hunt, Tammy Lobato and James Merlino.