Elmes Embarassed on Desalination Claim

Noosa MP Glen Elmes has embarrassed himself by wrongly claiming the Queensland Government has only just ruled out a desalination plant at Peregian.

“If Mr Elmes had been paying attention back in March, the Queensland Water Commission named its 6 possible desalination sites for further investigation and Peregian was not one of them,” said Mr Lucas

“It begs the question of whether Mr Elmes has even read the Draft South East Queensland Water Strategy.

“The people of Noosa really need to ask themselves whether Mr Elmes is fit to represent them when he clearly has no idea about such an important local issue.

“I’m well and truly aware that a site at Lytton, which is in my electorate, has made the list of six possible sites.

“Mr Elmes must not have even been reading the newspapers or watching television back in March, when the rest of South East Queensland was very clearly told the potential 6 sites being investigated.

“The Draft South East Queensland Water Strategy is publicly available on the internet, I suggest Mr Elmes find the time to read it.”

The Draft South East Queensland Water Strategy lists potential sites for desalination plants at Marcoola, Kawana, Bribie Island, Lytton, North Stradbroke Island and South Stradbroke Island.

The Queensland Water Commission will categorise these sites as Priority, Reserve or Excluded by mid 2009 as part of ongoing investigations.

“Peregian did not make this list because it was judged inferior based on social and environmental issues,” said Mr Lucas.

“In particular, unlike the six shortlisted sites, the Peregian site is privately owned.

“It ranked worse than the nearby Marcoola site in relation to disturbance of environmentally sensitive areas and compatability with surrounding land uses.

“I want to make it absolutely clear these are only potential sites for investigation.

“Once this current drought breaks it’s unlikely we’ll need new sources of water for at least the next two decades and perhaps even as far ahead as 2042.

“The Queensland Water Commission is saying while climate change, population growth and water use must be watched closely, unless there’s another record breaking drought then don’t build anything else, not for 5, 10 or even 15 years, but somewhere between 20 and 35.

“That’s because the Water Grid puts the South East on the front foot to deal with climate change and population growth into the future.”

Media Enquiries: Matthew Klar 0437 435 223

Journalists can view the list of 6 sites in the Draft South East Queensland Water Strategy for themselves at www.qwc.qld.gov.au