Monday, 01 January 2007

As the available storage in Sydney's water supply reservoirs recently reached new record lows, the new Liberal Candidate for Davidson, Jonathan O'Dea, asked "Who knows how low our reserves will be at the end of this summer?" 

"The one thing that is clear is that the NSW Labor Government has not properly planned for the water needs of our increasing population in Sydney, including in Davidson.  This is typical of a Government that has repeatedly demonstrated it is incapable of properly managing our State's resources."

"We need a change of Government so that a professional Liberal team can manage better outcomes for NSW people, including on water.  We need to take charge of the water crisis, not just pray for rain", Mr O'Dea stated.

Opposition Leader Peter Debnam recently outlined the first steps in the Liberal Plan to ‘drought proof’ New South Wales.  They are to:
•    Declare a State of Emergency to cut through red tape.
•    Harvest the billions of litres of stormwater that flow out to sea after rain.
•    Close ocean outfalls including one in our first term and recycle this water for non-drinking purposes.
•    Boost rainwater tank installation by doubling the rainwater tank rebate.
•    Repair ageing infrastructure and clear the backlog of over 200 projects needed to fix country and coastal towns’ water and sewerage schemes.
•    Encourage large scale recycling by ending Sydney Water’s monopoly.

In the week before Christmas Jonathan O'Dea spent mornings at North Shore train stations delivering a message on these proposed Liberal Party water-related initiatives.  Water will continue to be an important State election issue.