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- 5 May 2005
Goulburn Water Supply
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Page: 15811
Ms KATRINA HODGKINSON (Burrinjuck) [4.55 p.m.]: Urgent action is needed to reassure the residents of Goulburn that they will not be left high and dry in the face of the city's continually worsening water supply. As at last Monday Goulburn's usable water supply was 11.9 per cent of full capacity. The last time that Goulburn's water supply was close to 100 per cent was five years ago. Goulburn has been on water restrictions since 2002, and on stage five restrictions since October 2004. I believe that stage five restrictions would be unheard of in Sydney. They are severe. The use of any town water out of doors is totally banned, which means no outdoor watering, no filling or topping up of pools, and no washing of cars or outdoor surfaces. The target average water consumption in Goulburn per person per day is 150 litres. In June 2004 a Sydney Water annual report showed that water consumption in Sydney stood at a climate-corrected 367 litres per person per day. Sydney Water's target to reduce water consumption for the year 2011 is 330 litres per person per day. Compare that with Goulburn's target of 150.
Goulburn certainly is doing it tough, but the city is saving water. The weekly water consumption figures to the end of March show that Goulburn is using about one-third less water, only some 6.6 megalitres a day on its five-year average consumption, but, unfortunately, that is not enough. Some 10 days ago the level of potable water in Goulburn's water supply was 14 per cent. Last Monday it was 11.9 per cent. If this usage rate continues there could be as little as six weeks worth of water left. In September 2003 I wrote to the Minister for Energy and Utilities requesting funding to investigate the provision of emergency water supply bores. Unfortunately the Minister did not grasp the gravity of the situation and he wrote back to me on 3 February 2004 stating that he was unable to provide funding for this investigation as the funds available for drought-related works had been provided to severely affected areas elsewhere in the State.
I suggest that probably nowhere else is more seriously in need of water supplies than Goulburn. If this funding had been provided when it was requested, the Kingsdale bores would be in operation already to provide Goulburn with additional water. I acknowledge the eventual provision of $175,000 in assistance from the State Government to Goulburn Mulwaree Council to carry out these investigations, but it would have been better had it been provided sooner. I acknowledge also and appreciate the recent announcement of $618,500 in funding, about 50 per cent of the money needed to convert the test bores into production bores. These bores should come on line by August. What happens if the water runs out before that? Who will pay for the cartage of water? Who will provide the trucks for the water? What will this Government pay for? After all, Goulburn is in the Sydney Catchment Authority area, and it is a sizeable city.
Time and again in this place I have made the Government aware of the gravity of this situation. I have written to the Minister on many occasions, and I have spoken with him about it. I have gone to unprecedented lengths to explain to the Government how dire the situation is, yet I am again raising it. Last Friday week I spoke with the mayor of Goulburn at the Police College attestation parade. He mentioned the need to halt development in Goulburn—no more development. I know that the mayor of Yass is also concerned that the lack of water will prevent further development. It could take 12 months to amend the local environmental plan. Should the councils feel it is time to say, "Sorry, we have no more water that we can use for development", I call on the Minister for Infrastructure and Planning to accede to their urgent request to halt further development in these dire circumstances in this incredibly bad drought, the likes of which many people have never seen.
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