Desalinisation possibility is ruled out

Gosford Council has ruled out the possibility of a desalination plant being located in Correa Bay to deal with the current water shortage.

Gosford Council's media liaison officer, Ms Carole David, said that the Gosford-Wyong Water Authority was looking at a range of options for water supply including desalination plants, but Woy Woy was not potential site.

"There is a consultant for the Gosford-Wyong Water Authority currently looking at possible sites based on economic, environmental and social factors and Woy Woy is not on that list.

"Woy Woy is not an appropriate location for a number of environmental reasons."

Ms David said that research internationally and within Australia indicated that the current dry period was likely continue into the future and council and the water authority were carrying out contingency planning.

She said these plans included desalination plants and the recent purchase of two megalitres of water a day from Hunter Water in the short term as well as long term water planning where there was a variety of options.

The region's annual water supply demand in 2001 was 33,270 megalitres.

Based upon current growth projections, demand will be above 40,000 megalitres a year by 2020.

Alison Branley and water authority website, June 24