Re the article ‘‘Desal plant restart looms’’ (Leader, August 8).
It can actually be switched on at any time we need it. That was the whole point of it. It’ll be ready to operate within months. That’s a little different to the dams getting empty and scrambling to get EIS and planning approvals to build one and the associated pipework into the water network at the last minute.
Evan Smith
It hasn’t been touched in years, the maintenance and repair work alone would take months maybe a year to get it commissioned and operational not to mention the the site was partially damaged during the small hurricane that tore through Kurnell in which repairs have yet to be completed.
Barton Irving
So if it sits idle we should actually be grateful - it means we have rainfall.
If we’re in drought, we have a solution ready to go. Even if we use that desalinated water for washing and watering.
Alimike Smith
It will provide 15 per cent of Sydney’s water. With all the development happening, where the hell will the rest of the water be coming from?
Don’t just complain about the traffic. Also think about all of the other services which massive over-development puts pressure upon.
This is your state government creating an even bigger mess for the whole of Sydney with their "development near infrastructure plan" that they have been pushing for the last 30 years!
Jason Dullow
It’s only a matter of time and all state’s will need to be using more and more desalination particularly states such as SA who fortunately had the foresight to design and build a plant capable of producing large quantities that will be increasingly needed as the Murray continues its decline.
John McGowan
The article about restarting the desal plant made me wonder why it hasn’t been operating to help the farmers as I understand it costs us big time sitting there – so why can’t we send water to the farmers?
Lyle Ward
Soon it will be going 24/7 with the mass migration program. Soon they will have to build a couple more to keep up with consumption – dumb dumb.
Stephen Cashier
We have the luxury of this plant. We can get water. Our famers’s crops are failing. They’re putting bullets in the heads of their stock. Big deal of it costs a few more bucks.
Nathan Ansell
I can’t believe its been just sitting there doing nothing. After a knee-jerk reaction spending millions to build it. And now drought looms again they start to think about it.
Briony Evans
I’m just wondering why it hasn’t been turned on and why it cannot be turned on now especially knowing the farmers have been struggling. I’m sure they could of utilised a lot of water being tankered out to the farmers.
Jess Whiteoak
