The better water supply option

There is a better water supply option for Olympic Dam expansion than a desalination plant at Point Lowly. Don't take my word for it: ask SA Water. Documents obtained under Freedom of Information laws reveal a so-called 'Bolivar to Billiton' plan prepared by SA Water in mid 2006, proving that for an "equivalent cost":

Uses much less energy

Produces half as much greenhouse pollution

Requires no hyper-saline discharge into the delicate Upper Spencer Gulf

Stops Adelaide's dirty effluent from polluting St Vincents Gulf, and

Produces a more reliable supply of water

This SA Water proposal is a world class solution for a major environmental problem, and is an all too rare and exciting win-win solution – for no extra cost. BHP Billiton gets a reliable source of water that preserves the fragile marine ecology of the Upper Spencer Gulf and stops the dumping of effluent off Adelaide's beaches, for half the greenhouse pollution of desalination. So it begs the question. Why isn't it being embraced?

The SA Water Proposal

The SA Water documents I have obtained, reveal an advanced stage of preparation with detailed maps and water quality analysis. This was not done on the back of an envelope. SA Water spent a lot of time and energy ensuring this idea was viable. Article here.

Why desalination when there is a better proposal?

The State Government has already publicly committed $160 million to help fund the controversial Roxby desalination plant, matched by another $160 million from Federal Labor. There will be a lot of egos at stake if this didn't proceed. Article here.

An alternative to desalination

Mark Parnell. Greens Upper House MP.