HUNTER WATER PRICE HIKE FOR DAM NOT EVEN APPROVED
On July 17, 2009 IPART set Hunter Waters’ prices for water, sewer and drainage. According to Wilderness spokesman Sam East:
Hunter Water consumers were expecting a price increase in their following bill; but did they read the fine print? 15% of the overall 32.6% increase is for the construction of Tillegra Dam – a dam not yet approved to be built.
The Environmental Assessment Report of the project has been on display in Sydney, with formal submissions closing Friday 13 November 2009. The process of reviewing submissions received by NSW Department of Planning has barely begun.
Only last week did the Hon Peter Garrett, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts reject the Traveston Crossing Dam Project, citing the grave environmental risks and a weak cost benefit argument.
The question arises – “What on earth are we paying for?”
If the Hon Peter Garrett returns the same recommendation for Tillegra Dam as he did for the Traveston Crossing Dam Project what will Hunter Waters’ response be to its consumers when they put their hand out and ask “Please Sir, Can we have some of our dam money back?”
The Wilderness Society will again be asking the question “Do you care to pay for a dam we do not need?” outside Hunter Water, 36 Honeysuckle Drive Thursday 19th November from 9:30am. Hunter Water is hosting an open board meeting at 10am to present its Hunter Water Sustainability ‘Road Map’.
Hunter Water’s open board session will be held on Thursday 19 November, 2009 at 10.00am in the Hunter Water board room. Hunter Water will present a ’sustainability roadmap’ outlining the organisation’s approach to sustainable urban water management.
The Wilderness Society and its supporters will be rallying outside Hunter Water protesting the construction of the Tillegra Dam.
When: 9:30am Thursday November 19, 2009
Where: Hunter Water, 36 Honeysuckle Drive, Newcastle, 2300
