THE recent deluges that Sydney has experienced have probably saved many a garden and filled many a water tank, but for some Sutherland Shire residents the rain has merely been a reminder of what they regard as a $1.9 billion folly.
Words such as "a complete and utter waste of money" and "white elephant" litter their descriptions of what they feel about the desalination plant at Kurnell.
Amanda Byrne, a resident of 13 years, cannot understand why the the plant is seemingly deserted and neglected.
"It is derelict, abandoned, the grass is overgrown," Ms Byrne said.
"The boom gate is broken, there's big blocks of concrete at the entrance."
However, Sydney Desalination Plant Pty Ltd chief executive Keith Davies has defended the plant.
"When Sydney catchment storages fall to 70 per cent the plant will restart and produce water at its nominal capacity until storages rise to 80 per cent," he said.
"At this point the plant will be turned off and a decision made on how long it is likely to take until storages fall once again to the 70 per cent lower threshold."
He said recent rain had boosted storage to about 94.8 per cent.
When fully operational the plant can supply about 15 per cent of metropolitan Sydney's water needs.
Long-time environmentalist Bob Walshe was among those who originally protested against building the plant.
"The plant is a rort from beginning to end," Mr Walshe said. "The money could have gone on education and hospitals. "It's a white elephant."
Former Kurnell Progress Association office bearer Susan Davis said with dams now full she wanted to say "I told you so".
Her husband Trevor Davis said that politics had been involved in the plant being built.
"I have very strong views, I was vehemently against it being built in the first place," Mr Davies said.
Pieter de Rooy of Kurnell described the complex as "the greatest waste of money ever; a complete and utter waste of money".
FACT SHEET
Construction started: September 2007
Began operating: January 2010.
Capacity to produce: An average of 250 million litres of water a day, or 15 per cent of Sydney’s average drinking water needs.
Purpose: To supply water supplementing dams and recycled water.
At present: Eighteen people work at the plant, with round-the-clock on-site monitoring using remote
alarms, pagers and emails.
Future: A minimal crew on-site now ensures the plant could be ready to return into production should dam levels fall to 70 per cent.
Past: Initially ran for two years
Has the Kurnell desal plant been a waste of taxpayers' money?
