I would now like to comment on the six mentioned means of supplementing Melbourne's future water supply.

1. Increased conservation and efficiency efforts. Melbourne water users have already made considerable efforts to reduce consumption but they remain one of the highest users of water per capita in the world. There is still room for

hrther reductions in water use, eg, waterwise gardens, retention of some level of water restrictions, more efficient household appliances.

2. The collection of stormwater. The recent rainfall has shown just how inuch water flows down Melbourne streets without being captured and used. Collecting storrnwater from large buildings and encouraging the use of water tanks would greatly boost water supplies.

3. The re-use of treated waste water. This is the obvious solution to water shortages. Recycling water is environmentally sound as it would stop the need for ocean outfalls. Many overseas countries have been sensibly and safely using recycled water for a considerable time. People can be educated to accept recycled water but if some resistance persisted then using recycled water for industry and gardens would still lead to huge water savings.

4. The use of groundwater. This can have environmental consequences and should be of low priority. However, if done carefully t l s method can still boost supplies.

5. Small locally based desalination plants. I still believe that desalination should remain a last resort. If desalination were to be considered, building small plants near to where the water is to be used is a inuch more cost effective method. There would be no need for long pipelines or extensive powerlines. The reverse osmosis process is now so sophisticated that there is no need to source the water from the pristine ocean.

6. Any other optional water sources. Our local water authority, Westernport Water, has investigated several methods to boost supply. Water was pumped from the Bass River when the water reached a certain level and bores were tapped. Desalination was always to be a last resort and there are no current plans to tap into the desalinated water pipeline if it were constructed. Ironically the additional water sources are no longer required as recent rainfall has meant the reservoir is now 100% full. The desalination proposal has been a distraction and may even have slowed down plans to raise the dam wall to capture more of the recent rainfall.

I am not an expert by any means but I do have something that our State Government seems to be lacking, and that is common sense. It is quite obvious that desalination is an energy intensive and unnecessarily costly means of addressing water shortages. Any renewable energy offsets need to be directed to reducing our current levels of emissions. There are also potential risks to the marine environment and the precautionary principle should be applied. The proposed site for the plant will have detrimental effects on the coastline with the likelihood of destroying the very values that attract visitors and residents to Bass Coast. The proposed development is in conflict with both State and Local Government policies such as the Victorian Coastal Strategy, Victorian Coastal Spaces, and the Bass Coast Strategic Coastal Framework. The area is also a National Trust listed landscape.

There is also a huge social cost. Public land acquisition at the site plus the effects on landholders of the transfer pipeline and proposed powerlines has been quite devastating. The Environment Effects Statement has just been released but I fear it will be a farce in view of the lack of information provided so far and the indecent haste in which the Government is proceeding with its flawed plans. The attached advertisement shows the hypocrisy of the Government's plans. We are being asked to save energy when the proposed desalination plant will use thousands of those famous black balloons.

I would like to speak to my submission.

Yours sincerely,

Patricia Hunt

21st August 2008

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