MORE HUNTER WATER COULD DEFER DESALINATION

Plans to increase the amount of water available from Hunter Water to supplement the Central Coast supply could further defer the timing of installation of temporary desalination units.

The Gosford-Wyong Councils Water Authority Board today considered a report which examined the impact of the recent announcement to deliver more water from the Hunter region to the Central Coast.

The Board heard technical advice indicating it is possible to further delay the installation of temporary desalination units due to increased volumes of water to be piped from the Hunter – up to about 35 million litres a day from the current planned 20 million litres a day.

If and when temporary desalination does become necessary due to continuing drought conditions the volumes required may not be as much as previously considered.

Wyong Mayor Bob Graham said: "This is great news for the Central Coast. Temporary desalination has always been considered as a last resort.

“It also has the flexibility of timing – we are still going through the development application process now but, subject to relevant approvals, the units will only be installed if and when we need them.

“But access to additional water from the Hunter means the units will only be installed if and when we need them. If we wish to defer the installation further then we can.”

Gosford Mayor Laurie Maher added: “Temporary desalination has always been something we have not wanted to pursue except as the very last resort, when no other options are available to us, to prevent our total dam storage levels falling below 10%.

“If we can access more water from the Hunter to keep our dam levels above 10% then this is a much better option and is much more cost-effective.

“That said, rainfall, water consumption and all other related factors will also need to be considered before we reach a final decision on temporary desalination.”

The Water Authority Board recommended to the two Councils that the timing for installing the first two million litres of temporary desalination be re-evaluated at its next Board meeting on 20 December 2006.

This recommendation will be considered by each Council at their next individual meetings.

The Board also recommended that the two Councils move ahead with the plans to increase the volume of water sourced from the Hunter to an average 35 million litres a day.

Council staff have been working extensively through the arrangements with Hunter Water over recent months. The estimated cost to the Central Coast to fund the additional infrastructure required for the extra water is about $10.7 million, subject to each Councils’ approval.

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