OPEN LETTER TO STEVE BAXTER

Steve Baxter
Manager Community Relations
Sydney Water

Dear Mr Baxter,

On Monday night, 22 January, 2007, I attended the presentation you gave on the proposed desalination plant.  It raised many concerns and questions about the whole project.

It is surprising that the quality of the water that is currently being tested is being reported as “excellent”, and requiring “less processing than previously expected”.  The proposed water inflow point is in the proximity of waste from the Caltex refinery, not to mention other industrial run off.  I find it highly suspect that Sydney Water proclaims the water is completely uncontaminated when it goes in for treatment.  In turn, it makes it that much harder to believe that the water is “virtually harmless” when returned to the ocean.

It is interesting that Sydney Water will “minimize the near-field area”.  Contracting the area of impact means that the area you are affecting will have more concentrated levels of salinity than if it were more diffuse when entering the ocean.

Of course, salinity is not the only issue with the water being released from the desalination plant.  Temperature was completely ignored at the presentation. 

There were other issues you and your panel were deafeningly silent on at the presentation. 

For instance, cultural issues were not mentioned.  The indigenous peoples of the Kurnell peninsula are completely unsatisfied with the continued, government-sanctioned destruction of the land.  The Greens’ call for a proper survey of the heritage value of the site be conducted.

Whales.  Whales were only mentioned when you were questioned about them - and then what did you say: there is no evidence anywhere in the world that a desalination plant would affect the migratory routes of whales.  That is because no one else is blockheaded enough to build a desalination plant on a whale migration route.  You acknowledged that the lack of evidence did not mean there would be no impact. 

You and every other expert in the world have no idea what the long-term effect on the whales will be.

As “critical infrastructure”, this project can go ahead regardless of any valid objections or obstacles.  Accordingly, Sydney Water’s studies are designed to measure the damage the plant incurs, rather than to determine whether it is going to be an environmental disaster that should not go ahead.

There is nothing environmentally friendly about this project.  The furphy that it will be “greenhouse neutral”, ignores the fact that the plant will purchase pre-existing renewable energy.  When consumer demand increases, will Sydney Water build more wind farms?

The money being spent on this project could buy Sydney a lot more water than this ridiculous project will ever produce.  Between Level IV water restrictions, recycling, rainwater tanks and other cost effective measures, Sydney’s water problems could be resolved.  Please explain why Sydney Water is supporting the Carr-Iemma governments in this preposterous project.

Yours Sincerely,
Naomi Waizer
Naomi Waizer
Greens’ Candidate for Cronulla

24 January 2007