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- 14 November 2001
Northside Storage Tunnel
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Page: 18637
Mr COLLINS (Willoughby) [5.48 p.m.]: I bring to the attention of the House a matter I have previously raised in private members' statements, that is, the northside storage tunnel and its impact on my constituents, my electorate, and the students of Glenaeon School at Middle Cove. I raise this matter because the Auditor General's report which was tabled recently in this Parliament discloses a massive blow-out in the cost of this project. I remind the House that in 1997, when I was Leader of the Opposition, the Government promised that the northside storage tunnel would cost $290 million. In 1998 the estimate became $300 million; in 1999, $430 million; and in 2000, $451 million. We are told that that the latest figure is $467 million, but that is not a final figure.
This Parliament should be deeply concerned about the blow-out in the cost of this project because it affects the entire budget for Sydney Water. It affects what Sydney Water planned to spend on infrastructure projects, not just across the Sydney metropolitan area but in the Blue Mountains and the Illawarra this year. In other words, one project is—pardon the pun—soaking up all the funds available for major infrastructure development. My particular concern for my electorate is, first, the statewide concern about the budget being absorbed on this single infrastructure project. But some 90 metres from the Glenaeon School is the Scotts Creek vent, the largest vent of its kind, emitting sewage fumes into the atmosphere. It does not stream out pathogens. The whole area is untested.
It is a matter of deep concern to my electorate, to all of my constituents, and especially to students and teachers at Glenaeon School and the parents of the students. It is also a concern to Willoughby City Council. This matter has been raised previously but it has not been addressed. I have pleaded with the Government to address this issue by venting elsewhere—preferably at North Head, which is an isolated area, not close to residential areas, schools and so on. North Head is really designed for that purpose, with Sydney Water's major sewage treatment plant at that location. It is surely an ideal location for venting.
Sydney Water has conceded that the estimates for modifying the northside storage tunnel to vent at North Head range from $20 million to a maximum of $50 million. There has been a blow-out so far of $180 million in this project, yet the venting problem remains unresolved. Governments of the future, regardless of who is in government in 10 or 20 years time, may be left with significant liability as a result of this untested volume of pathogens being released into the atmosphere at Scotts Creek, Middle Cove, 90 metres from Glenaeon School. The warning is there. The writing is on the wall for future governments.
It may well be that the public servants who are happy to sign off on this right now are happy to do so on the basis that they will not be around in 10 or 20 years to accept responsibility. But the government of this State will be around, regardless of who controls it in 10 or 20 years when the issue of liability may arise. Sydney Water should have been far more diligent in its handling of this budget. It is a disgrace that this budget has blown out by more than $180 million so far, and that the maximum $50 million necessary to provide a solution to this problem has not been a part of this project. It is still open to the Government to adjust it, and I believe it should be done as a matter of urgency. I raise this matter today on behalf of my constituents, and I thank the House for its attention. [Time expired.]
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