NSW Opposition Leader Peter Debnam today announced a $955.7 million plan to establish a ‘New Water Network’ to enable Sydney to flick the switch to boost Sydney’s drinking water supplies with recycled water. 

“Last July, I committed a Liberal/Nationals Government to water recycling as our top priority to tackle the water crisis in NSW. I now believe we need to go further." Mr Debnam said.

“Under Labor, 97% of Sydney’s water is washed out to sea. Like many things in NSW, this needs to change," he said.

“Last week, Labor committed NSW taxpayers to spend $1.9 billion on a desalination plant at Kurnell, ignoring their own trigger point, just six weeks out from the election.

“I strongly believe that this is the wrong answer and that this plan should not be forced on the people of Sydney.

“The people of NSW should be given the opportunity to have their say on how we tackle our water crisis - before the election. They should be given a clear choice and we will give it to them.

“I believe the $1.9 billion should be used for recycling, and not locked up in what Labor believes is a silver bullet solution to the water crisis that it created by failing to plan and act over 12 years.

“Instead of building Labor’s desalination plant, I believe we should build the infrastructure needed to ‘flick the switch’ to use high quality recycled water to boost Sydney drinking water supplies.

“The NSW Liberal/Nationals will commit $955.7 million to construct and establish a ‘New Water’ Network in Sydney, including:

• $470 million to link inland treatment plants in North Western Sydney and upgrade the North Richmond Water Filtration Plant;

• $450 million to upgrade and link inland treatment plants in South Western Sydney to Prospect Reservoir;

• $25 million for planning the recycling of ocean outfalls, and

• $10.7 million on community engagement and safeguards.

"Combined, the NSW Liberal/Nationals ‘New Water’ Network will provide up to 86 billion litres of high grade drinking quality water per year, while maintaining and enhancing environmental flows in our rivers.

“This plan will deliver almost twice the new drinking water provided by Labor’s energy-guzzling desalination plant at Kurnell at less than half the cost. And unlike Labor’s desalination, our plan will stop billions of litres of Sydney’s water flowing out to sea every year.

“Under the NSW Liberal/Nationals plan, our first priority will be to use recycled water for agricultural and industrial purposes and environmental flows, reducing the demand on Sydney’s dam water supplies. However, the infrastructure will be built to enable us to ‘flick the switch’ for the water to be used for household purposes.

“The infrastructure will be built from day one. We will only flick the switch when dam levels fall below 20% and the safeguards are in place.

“To provide the necessary safeguards and protection for Sydney water users the NSW Liberal/Nationals will:

• establish a Water Excellence Panel (WEP), to be the community watchdog and standard setter for recycled water quality, including the terms and conditions upon which the Government could ‘flick the switch’ for blending New Water into the drinking supply;

• create a new legislated Water Quality Charter binding the Government and the Parliament to the conditions and safeguards established by the WEP;

• appoint an Independent Water Commissioner to implement the Charter and cut through the red tape and bureaucracy that has paralysed NSW from dealing with the water crisis; and,

• construct a ‘Water Factory’ at Homebush as an education and technology Centre.

“It’s the right policy and it’s the right decision to secure Sydney’s water needs.

“The Labor Government has announced they will proceed with the construction of a desalination plant at Kurnell, just 6 weeks out from the election.

“Labor’s desalination plant is designed only to divert attention from Labor’s failure to plan and act on NSW's water needs for 12 years. It is not a plan for securing Sydney’s long term water needs, it just another Labor election con, just like last time.

“Desalination should only be a measure of last resort. It's environmentally reckless, will cost taxpayers at least $1.9 billion dollars and will deliver less than 5 weeks of water every year – half the amount delivered under the NSW Liberal/Nationals recycling plan.

“And these impacts are based only on what Labor has told us. After the debacle of the Cross City Tunnel how can anyone have confidence that Labor can build their desalination plant at Kurnell without further cost and time blow outs.

“And for the people and families of the Sutherland Shire, who will have to put up with the direct impact of this plant on their local environment and lifestyle, the water will be pumped back across Botany Bay at taxpayers' expense, into hundred year old pipes, to service eastern and inner western Sydney.

“Not until there is a rainwater tank in every backyard and we have exhausted all other options should we even consider going down this desperate and reckless path of desalination.

“Since announcing our commitment to water recycling last July, we have announced further measures on water recycling and storm water harvesting that confirm these solutions as our top priorities, including:

• increase in the rebate for installing rainwater tanks to $1,500 where they are connected to the toilet or washing machine;

• a $400 rebate to get existing tanks connected up for household use; and,

• comprehensive regional water plans for the Central Coast, Goulburn/Southern Highlands and Far West NSW.

“Morris Iemma and Labor say they have a water plan, but it’s the wrong plan.

“Sydney needs and deserves better options than Labor’s panic plan for desalination at Kurnell. The NSW Liberal/Nationals commitment to recycling and stormwater harvesting, regional water plans and our New Water Network, provides these options.

“Labor will do whatever it can over the next five weeks to discredit me and to discredit water recycling as a viable option for NSW and Sydney.

“They have already begun their lies and negative campaigning about recycling. They may even try and run a scare campaign against recycled water to frighten people into voting for them.

“I believe Labor’s attempts to discredit water recycling are as irresponsible as they are hypocritical. We should be considering all options.

“If Labor believes there are any issues associated with drinking recycled water, then Labor should be telling people and families in regional towns and rural areas, as well residents in North Western Sydney why they are drinking recycled water now.

“Labor believes we don’t need to seriously use water recycling to boost the drinking supply as an answer to Sydney and NSW's water needs. I disagree.

“There are no silver bullet solutions to solving our water crisis. We have to consider every option. We have to tackle our water crisis house by house, town by town and region by region. And we must have clear priorities.

“I look forward to the debate about who has the better plan to tackle Labor’s water crisis. The NSW Liberal/Nationals have clear credentials in supporting recycling and stormwater harvesting as our top priorities.