Missed opportunity
At a cost of several million the state government could have repaired the Sydney Desalination Plant and had it up-and-running in June 2018, at a time when the water level in the Warragamba dam dropped below 70 per cent capacity. The government failed to act.
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However, there is more to the government's gross negligence that meets the eye. Under previous operations, for austerity measures, the plant, ran at 50 per cent capacity (250 megalitres drinking water processed every 24 hours). At the time in question, for a little extra cost, instead of 250 meg/l p-d, the level of output could have been raised to 500 meg/l p-d; a sufficient outflow, to supply two-thirds of Sydney residents' drinking water requirements on a daily basis-a lost opportunity.
Even more concerning, the government in a screwed-up act of accountability, did nothing, whilst continuing to pay the leaseholder's over $500,000 a day to keep the desalination plant mothballed.
Now in panic mode, they are talking of spending billions raising the wall of Warragamba, a dam that's less than half-full, even though the Sydney catchment is supplemented daily from Shoalhaven's Tallowa catchment.
What's that about going around in circles and going nowhere?
J. Macleod, Berry
She won't be right, mate
China, through necessity built the Great Wall Of China to protect itself from the invading hordes.
Modern day Australia it would appear has the Great Dividing Range as its border to differentiate the city slickers from those in regional and rural Australia.
Travelling from East to West and after crossing same, the deterioration of standards and services is most evident. The scarcity of population is consistent with the level of availability of provisions and services thus confirming an administrative divide.
Sadly, the resources the big city fellas require is provided by those who preside in the less popular rural regions.
The current devastating drought has brought regional Australia to its knees.
There appears to be an acceptance of the she'll be right mate attitude emanating from the ruling elite, firmly settled most cosily in their city environments. This false assumption may have the most dire of consequences once regional Australia fails to provide to those in the cities the food and resources they require.
The Prime Minister and his ministers would do well to put their passports away, stay at home and deal with the problems being faced by our country cousins.
B. Cumberland, North Nowra
Year 12, be positive
With the HSC exams starting tomorrow I would like to take this opportunity to pass on my best wishes to all our Year 12 graduates for 2019. These exams will be a culmination of many years of schooling and the demands that study places on your life in various ways have strengthened your character, developed skills and helped to equip you for a rewarding future.
A positive attitude and organised preparation will always assist you in getting through the exams and later when taking on other challenges throughout your life. Once again congratulations and I wish you all the best in your exams and your future endeavours.
S. Hancock, Member for South Coast
Focus on farmers
According to DFAT's official website it has earmarked $4 billion of the foreign aid budget to the Indo-Pacific 'pipeline'.
Why hasn't the government pared back 50 per cent of the figure to help our farmers?
The government is awash with our money.
Given this, isn't it about time the government reprioritised its domestic responsibilities by diverting a good chunk of aid money to our 'on the land' problems?
