Latest Plan News Archive

December 2006

Sydney�s Water Plan on track says Independent Review Panel

The Independent Review Panel established to provide advice on the Government�s Metropolitan Water Plan has released its report, confirming that �the diverse range of measures contained in the Plan provide a robust approach to managing Sydney�s drinking water supply�.

The six-member panel of independent experts chaired by Professor Peter Cullen, a Commissioner of the National Water Commission, warned that rainfall patterns of the past 15 years indicate that eastern Australia may be experiencing a significant climate shift even earlier than previously forecast.

In providing advice to the Premier, the Panel stated that �In particular, the Plan�s �drought readiness strategies� of groundwater and desalination becoming available at predetermined trigger levels as the dams deplete provide confidence that despite continuing dry weather the city will not run out of water�.

A copy of the Panel�s letter to the Premier is available for download.

Drought readiness is part of a range of strategies being implemented as part of the Metropolitan Water Plan including:

Massive recycling schemes for industry, agriculture, the environment and for dual reticulation in homes taking recycled water use to 70 billion litres a year by 2015;
Accessing deep water in our existing dams to provide an extra 40 billion litres of water a year;
Using new groundwater sources to provide up to 45 billion litres a year for at least the next three years; and
Being ready to build a desalination plant if our dam storage system falls to around 30%.

The Panel noted that it is critically important that we all continue to play our part to secure Sydney�s water supplies as these significant initiatives, �do not mean the community or industry can relax their water conservation measures� as there is a �noticeable downward shift in rainfall and inflows to our water system�. Further information on saving water.

For more information on the Independent Review Panel click here.

Updates on the initiatives are below:

Recycling

Contracts will be signed this year for recycling schemes that will take re-use of effluent from 15 billion litres a year to 70 billion litres a year by 2015. Further information on recycling.

Deep Water

The deep water pumps are already working at Nepean Dam securing the water supply for the 270,000 residents of the Illawarra and the pumps at Warragamba Dam are ready to start pumping if its level falls to around 20%. Further information on deep water.

Groundwater

Ground water is ready to be added to the supply system in the Southern Highlands and will soon be ready at Leonay, while a new source at Wallacia is promising. Further information on groundwater .

Desalination

As detailed in the Metropolitan Water Plan, the NSW Government will build a desalination plant in the event that dam levels drop below around 30%, in order to secure Sydney�s water supplies. To ensure we are in position to deploy desalination quickly if necessary, $120 million is being invested in preparatory works to reduce the lead time for a plant to start supplying water.

So far, the following steps have been taken be ready to build the desalination plant if it is needed:

Acquired the site at Kurnell
Constructed a pilot plant to test the concept
Conducted an extensive environmental assessment
Received planning approval
Developed a Desalination Blueprint Design
Reviewed the Expressions of Interest to tender for final stages of the detailed design.

If the plant is required, the NSW Government has specified that it will be powered using 100 per cent renewable energy. This would mean that the plant would have no net greenhouse impact. Further information on desalination.

The Independent Review Panel said the Plan provides a robust approach to planning for Sydney�s water needs, and advises the Government that it must be ready to build the desalination plant at the trigger point of around 30% of dam storage levels. The Panel says this is �because we have concluded that Sydney�s water security could be significantly eroded if the Plan is not implemented completely and in the way it has been designed�.