Drake opposes desalination

Cr Trevor Drake has come out in opposition to the use of mobile desalination plants by the Gosford Wyong Joint Water Authority.

A technical advisory group of the water authority has recommended the authority commission six plants, including one at Umina Beach.

The number would be increased to 20 over time.

Cr Drake said the first year cost of the initial six plants would be $11.1 million "for 29 days of water".

He said: "I do not believe that if the public was truly aware of the economic and environmental costs associated with such installations that they would support or endorse such an approach."

Cr Drake said he supported Cr Terri Latella's call for public forums to discuss the proposed mobile desalination plants as advocated by some Wyong Councillors.

Cr Drake's opposition follows calls from environment groups to reject the proposal.

The Central Coast's Community Environment Network, the Australian Conservation Foundation Central Coast branch and Sydney's Total Environment Centre have all called on the authority to find alternatives.

"The joint water authority should be concentrating on less environmentally-damaging solutions such as stormwater harvesting and be providing greater rebates or loans for purchase of rainwater tanks that are plumbed into the household," said ACF branch president Mr John Wiggin.

Cr Drake said: "I have had the opportunity to view a preliminary report which details the economic and environmental costs.

"The extra time we would buy is not worth it.

"As of June 5, we have total dam capacity of 33,529 million litres.

"Our average daily use is approximately 75 million litres.

"If we had no other source of water, our dams would be completely empty in 447 days, which is just short of 64 weeks.

Cr Drake said the set up for six mobile desalination plants was estimated to cost $2.4 million, at $400,000 per site, and would take four months.

"The running and lease cost in the first year alone would be $8.7 million," Cr Drake said.

"The environmental impacts on returning the leftover brine to enclosed lagoons are unable to be calculated."

"There is a suggestion that it be put in the sewers, which will most likely cause problems with current water recycling programs instituted by the Councils."

Cr Drake said that, in addition, the desalination plants use a significant amount of electricity.

"It has been calculated that for every 1000 litres of water produced, 4.5kg of carbon dioxide will also be produced," Cr Drake said.

"That equates to a daily output of 27 tonne or a yearly output of nearly 10,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide for six mobile desalination plants.

Cr Drake said this appeared to be in direct contrast with Gosford Council's policy on reducing Greenhouse emissions.

He said: "Both councils discharge 60 million litres of tertiary treated water from the Norah Head and Kincumber treatment works on a daily basis.

"This discharge is practically clear water, and the same technology as desalination exists to convert it to better than drinking water quality at a much reduced cost, both economically and environmentally.

"In the absence of public support I can not endorse mobile desalination plants as the cost to the community on economic and environmental grounds is too high.

"If we could recycle and return to our dams or rivers for reuse, all the water, we presently discharge from our sewerage works, the Central Coast would be drought-proofed forever."

Press releases, June 6 Trevor Drake, Gosford Councillor Community Environment Network ACF Central Coast Lyle Stone, June 6