Barry York January 14, 2011
NO new dams of significant size have been built in Australia for more than two decades.
During the recent long drought, the dam question arose again but the response from experts and governments was along the lines of: "Why build a dam if the climate has permanently changed in a way that means there will be less rain in future?
Opposition to dams has been a key success in the development of the green movement and the Greens party since the early 1980s. But the term opposition understates the situation: it is really demonisation of dams.
In the Green quasi-religion, dams are evil, akin to a Satanic force. Thus, there must never be any big new dams built. Not ever.
The Green policy is expressed at their website as a principle: "There should be no new large-scale dams on Australian rivers."
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/seeing-red-on-dams-not-green/story-e6frg6zo-1225987397128
Desalination plant at Kurnell costing taxpayers $534,246 a day as it sits idle while water levels remain high
From: The Sunday Telegraph
August 24, 2014
The desalination plant being built in Kurnell. Source: News Limited
And with recent rain there is no prospect of the “white elephant” infrastructure being used for years.
The plant in Kurnell, which is jointly owned by a Canadian pension fund and an Australian fund management company, was turned off in mid-2012 as Sydney’s dams surged to nearly 100 per cent full.
Water levels have remained high ever since and as a result the desalination plant, which is designed to convert sea water into freshwater in times of drought, has never been switched back on.
It is costing taxpayers an incredible $195 million a year — or $534,246 a day — in “service fees” just to have the plant on standby.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/desalination-plant-at-kurnell-costing-taxpayers-534246-a-day-as-it-sits-idle-while-water-levels-remain-high/story-fni0cx12-1227033578428
Desal plant could sit idle for three years
Victoria
Water Minister Peter Walsh on Wednesday announced the government would not order water from the Wonthaggi plant in 2013-14, saying that with Melbourne's dams almost 74 per cent full - about 10 per cent higher than this time last year - it was unnecessary.
But Fairfax Media understands the supply contract with plant owner AquaSure requires the government to make ''non-binding'' forecasts for the following two financial years.
It is understood the government has told Aquasure that, at this stage, it does not intend to order water for 2014-15 or 2015-16. The forecasts are not set in stone and can be reassessed before formal notification of orders is given each year before April 1.
The desalination plant was built under the former Brumby Labor government and will cost taxpayers between $19 billion and $24 billion to 2040, depending on how much water is ordered. It can produce up to 150 gigalitres of drinking water a year.
In 2013-14, the plant will cost Victorian taxpayers $649 million even without water ordered.
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/desal-plant-could-sit-idle-for-three-years-20130327-2gtn6.html
