NSW: Sartor confirms sewage upgrades on hold

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NSW: Sartor confirms sewage upgrades on hold

By Jim Hanna, State Political Correspondent

SYDNEY, Aug 6 AAP - Upgrades of Sydney's sewage treatment plants were on hold whileSydney Water reassessed spending priorities, NSW Energy and Utilities Minister Frank Sartorsaid today.

The confirmation drew fire from the opposition which said the delay was about cost-cutting,not improving Sydney's ability to treat sewage.

Mr Sartor confirmed an upgrade of the critical North Head treatment plant was on hold,despite a report Sydney Water was concerned its three ocean outfalls carrying sewage fourkilometres out to sea could fail.

The Sydney Morning Herald said an internal document showed 5,500 tonnes of householdgrease could block the outfalls, forcing a return to the shoreline outfalls of the 1980swhen beaches were frequently closed because of pollution.

"We're talking about 10 nozzles out of 390 being blocked," Mr Sartor told reporters.

"They're self-cleaning anyway. There's no major issue in relation to that.

"The extent to which we'll be upgrading North Head is still on the drawing board, stillbeing discussed and there may still be substantial investment."

Mr Sartor rejected accusations by opposition utilities spokesman Brad Hazzard thatcrucial sewage projects had been cancelled or had no timetable for completion.

"Brad Hazzard has fantasies sometimes and I think that's very important because everybodyneeds to have some fantasies; he chooses to have them over the sewage system."

But Mr Hazzard said Sydney Water managing director Greg Robinson has instructed alldivisions not to put projects on a timetable until they have been fully funded.

"Mr Sartor is telling major porkies because he knows damn well the government has directedeach of the departments including Sydney Water to find big efficiency savings," he toldreporters.

"That means cutbacks."

Mr Hazzard released a list of seven projects which were either cancelled, deferredor had no completion date.

He said the government was focussing attention on infrastructure problems so it couldintroduce so-called penalty payments for consumers who used too much water or electricity.

"It seems to me a deliberate government strategy to put out there enough informationabout how bad the situation is without making the government look too bad, but just enoughto justify putting up the prices," Mr Hazzard said.

"In other words, penalty payments are the way this government's going to go."

Mr Sartor appeared to confirm Mr Hazzard's claim.

"I said on Monday we're considering mandatory requirements, we're considering pricemechanisms as well," he said.

He said water saving devices could be made compulsory in all new housing developmentsto guarantee the future of Sydney's water supplies.

Mr Sartor was speaking at the signing of an agreement between Sydney Water and propertydeveloper Australand to install, where practical, a wide range of water conservation measuresin all its new residential and commercial developments.

AAP jph/nf/cjh/br

KEYWORD: WATER NIGHTLEAD