August 4th, 2008

Desalination plant causes more community concern

The desalination plant at Wonthaggi is set to cause further environmental and community disruption through construction of a major power transmission to the site, according to Eastern Victoria MP Peter Hall.

Mr Hall has called for the Government to seriously investigate other methods of getting power to the site, including undergrounding.

The proposed route from Tynong North to Wonthaggi is 75 kilometres long and would have a huge affect on many local properties if it was to run above ground,” Mr Hall said.

“The actual transmission line taking the power to the desalination plant is 75 kilometres long and will have a 40-metre-wide easement attached to it. It will run through something like 220 privately-owned properties, and of course many other properties bordering that alignment,” he said. “People in the area have, quite rightly, some very strong concerns about the government's proposal.”

In Parliament last week Mr Hall called on the State Government to ensure that all other options are fully explored, including the cost of undergrounding.
“Undergrounding would at least alleviate one component of the environmental effects this project will have on Victoria.”

The Nationals’ MP, however, reiterated his opposition to the whole project. “I am strongly opposed to the desalination plant on both environmental and economic grounds,” he said.

“I have raised in the Parliament and elsewhere a number of times that there are alternatives to spending $3.1 billion of taxpayers’ money on desalination when it would be possible for Melbourne to secure its water supply through other means.”

Mr Hall said currently Melbourne uses about 450 GL in water per year.  Of that, 350 GL ends up at the Eastern or Western treatment plant as wastewater.   About 50 GL is recycled, the other 300GL is pumped out to sea as wastewater. 

“We do not need potable water to flush toilets, water parks, gardens to sporting facilities and nor does industry need drinking water for much of its uses.   Melbourne’s future water needs could be satisfied if 200 of that 300 GL was recycled. 

“It could also collect some of the 500GL of rain that falls on Melbourne and runs into Port Phillip Bay as stormwater.”

Mr Hall has previously tried to introduce a private member’s bill that would require Melbourne’s water authorities and large water users to use recycled water or stormwater for 30% of customer use.
“Melbourne is capable of living within its own means and it should do so.  Environmental recycling and re-use is the right thing to do,” he added.

“Not only that, but it would remove the impact on local communities caused by the desalination plant itself and the ancillary services required, such as another huge transmission line.”

Media contact:                  Peter Hall      (03) 5174 7066   or 0427 747 066