NSW Opposition Leader Peter Debnam today inspected the marine life threatened by Labor's desalination plant at Kurnell. 

"Not only is Kurnell Australia's birthplace, it also has a rich coastal waters. Now that Morris Iemma has put all his eggs in the desalination basket, he must come clean on the environmental impact of Labor's desalination plant," Mr Debnam said.

"Sydney Water's own habitat survey at the Kurnell intake and outlet areas in August 2006 shows the vast array of aquatic flora and fauna that will suffer or die when Labor's desalination plant is built," he said.

"The documents show the intake and outlet areas are home to a diverse number of aquatic species, including leatherjackets, butterfly fish, damsel fish, sea urchins, Port Jackson sharks and even the endangered weedy sea dragon.

"The documents even raise concerns that the diverse marine life "could foul the intake and reduce its efficiency."

"Despite overwhelming evidence that the plant is environmentally unsound – Bob Carr described desalination as bottled electricity - Morris Iemma continues to push ahead with Labor's greenhouse gas guzzling desalination plant.

"Like Bob Carr before him, Morris Iemma continues to pillage the birthplace of our nation.

"There is no silver bullet to the water crisis, but Morris Iemma and Labor are wedded to desalination at the expense of recycling and stormwater harvesting.

"A NSW Liberal/Nationals Government will not build Labor's desalination plant at Kurnell in favour of large scale recycling and stormwater harvesting.

"My plan will deliver double the water at half the cost," Mr Debnam said.