Herald Sun 29/10/2007: Rudd’s $1b desal plan for cities
Rudd’s $1b desal plan for cities
Article from: Herald Sun
Peter Jean and John Ferguson
October 29, 2007 12:00am
THE Wonthaggi desalination plant could receive a $100 million federal
subsidy as part of a $1 billion Labor plan to secure the water supplies
of Australia’s major cities.
Under a policy to help fund desalination, water recycling and storm
water harvesting projects announced by Labor leader Kevin Rudd yesterday:
PRIVATE businesses, state governments and local councils would be able
to apply for 10 per cent tax credits for water projects.
THE tax credits would be capped at $100 million a project.
ELIGIBLE projects would have to be “carbon-neutral”.
Mr Rudd made the announcement after touring the site of a future
desalination plant on the Gold Coast.
“This is important new national leadership when it comes to security for
urban water supplies for Australia,” he said.
“This will be the single largest national government investment in urban
water in this country’s history.”
Mr Rudd said the $3.1 billion Wonthaggi plant, which was due to open in
2011, would be considered for a tax credit.
“It’s a significant project,” the Opposition Leader said.
“Infrastructure Australia would be directed to assess that project
against its life, against when it comes on stream.
“And if the project is already on foot we are still in a position
whereby we can deliver funding support to projects if, as a result of
the addition of the help from our fund, construction time can be brought
forward and capacity extended.”
The Wonthaggi plant will produce 150 billion litres, or about one-third
of Melbourne’s current water supply, each year.
A spokesman for the Brumby Government said any further investment in
Victoria that provided security for state water supplies would be welcome.
He said desalination and water recycling were consistent with the
Government’s approach as part of the $4.9 billion water plan announced
mid-year.
Australian Greens leader Bob Brown said tax credits should be provided
only for rainwater harvesting and other environmentally friendly
projects, not electricity-guzzling desalination plants.
He said desalination facilities were “Labor’s equivalent of the
Liberals’ nuclear plants”.
Mr Rudd said desalination technology was controversial, but he believed
the public wanted solutions to urban water challenges.
He accused Prime Minister John Howard of failing to help address water
security problems facing big cities, but also said state governments
could have done more to secure water supplies.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22663167-661,00.html
admin @ November 1, 2007