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Water:
Scorched earth for water plant we might not need |
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Hannah Edwards, Environment Reporter, SMH
September 2, 2007
THIS is the first clear glimpse of the massive scale of the construction work for the state's $1.76 billion water desalination plant at Kurnell.
Earth works to prepare the controversial site, south of Botany Bay, have been under way for several months.
The State Government commissioned the plant during the height of the drought, saying it would help solve Sydney's future drinking water shortage problems.
But critics say the plant, due for completion in 2009, is no longer needed, with recent rains having raised dam levels.
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Water works ... Aerial view of the Kurnell desalination plant site. The plant should be operational by 2009.
Photo: Anthony Johnson
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Scientists and environmental groups warn that creatures in the bay will be threatened if a proposed undersea pipeline gets final approval.
Construction and operation of the plant would threaten smaller creatures such as sponges, giant cuttlefish and weedy seadragons. The noise might force migrating whales further out to sea.
Sydney Water is "finetuning" the pipeline route. The pipeline would allow desalinated water from the plant to be delivered to the main supply. The plant is expected to produce 250 million litres of drinkable water a day.
A Sydney Water spokesman said the impact on the marine environment had been "deemed to be minimal".
Environmental scientists are not convinced. Jane Williamson, a Macquarie University lecturer in biological sciences, is concerned about the effect the pipeline might have on the rich diversity of marine animal and plant life.
"People think of Botany Bay as a bit of a wasteland but it really isn't," Dr Williamson said.
Juvenile nurseries of fish and associated fauna live in remnant patches of seagrass, she said. "Two types of seagrass occur around there - one that recovers quickly and one that takes a long time to recover. This will be fairly impacted."
Dr Williamson said the area around the plant's outlet tunnel, which would be used to deposit waste water after the desalination process, could also be affected.
"There is a rocky reef with a really diverse range of invertebrates such as weedy seadragons. Effluent would be dispersed at this site that will have warm saline water that will be highly turbid with increased nutrients."
A number of sea urchin species could "be wiped out", she said.
"The other problem is the dredging associated with attaching the pipeline to the sea floor. It could resuspend sediments, stir them all up. There could be historic industrial waste that could cause transient pollution events."
A protest against the plant will take place on September 12.
Protest organisers say a desalination plant is not required, particularly now dam water levels have risen to close to 60per cent capacity. They say work should stop.
Botany Bay and Catchment Alliance spokesman Gary Blaschke said animals were facing pressure from projects including the expansion of Port Botany as well as the laying of a high voltage power cable across the Botany Bay heads for EnergyAustralia. | |
Long time between drinks
- October 2004: Proposal for desalination plant announced as drought worsens and dam levels fall.
- July 2005: Kurnell announced as site for plant.
- February 2006: Plans put on backburner when two underground aquifers are discovered, boosting Sydney's water supply.
- November 2006: Development application for plant is approved by Planning Minister Frank Sartor as dams drop to 39per cent capacity.
- February 2007: Two consortiums asked to tender for plant construction.
- Late May 2007: Public submissions for plant close. Some early site work begins.
- June 2007: Bluewater consortium announced as builder. Premier Morris Iemma announces plant's capacity will be 250million litres a day.
- August 2007: Construction work begins. Completion expected by 2009. |
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Related links:
Story found at SMH :  tinyurl.com/2lvvts |
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