The New South Wales Premier has blamed the former Labor government for the continued operation of Sydney’s desalination plant, despite predictions Warragamba Dam will soon overflow.
Sydney’s dam levels have been steadily rising over the past few months.
They are now at 87.1 per cent of capacity, but the Sydney Desalination Plant has still been pumping out 90 million litres of water a day.
Sustainability researcher Stuart White, from the University of Technology Sydney, says more rain could see Warragamba Dam overflow.
“That is highly likely and the Warragamba system or the Sydney dam system can fill very rapidly, as we know from previous years,” Professor White said.
Greens MP John Kaye says that means the desalination plant should be switched off.
He has calculated the current cost of the plant’s operation.
“That plant is costing us almost $340,000 a week,” Dr Kaye said.
Premier Barry O’Farrell agrees, but says the Government’s hands are tied.
“There is a contract entered into by the former government that if varied required taxpayers to stump up compensation. A stupid contract entered into by the former Labor government,” he said.
“We shouldn’t have to have this sorry mess where not only do we have rainfall and not only do we have water storages at 100 per cent, but we have a Labor desal contract that says we have to continue to buy water.
“If the contract is scrapped there’s compensation payable.”
The Finance Minister Greg Pearce announced this afternoon the plant’s output would be halved to 45 million litres a day.
His media release makes no mention of whether compensation was paid, but he says the plant cannot be wound back any further because of the plant is still in its warranty period.
Mr O’Farrell would not guarantee the plant will be switched off in June, when the two year “proving period” that requires it to remain operating ends.
