FED:Menindee water very expensive WIA

AAP General News (Australia)
08-11-2010
FED:Menindee water very expensive WIA

ADELAIDE, Aug 11 AAP - The coalition's plan for NSW's Menindee Lakes will produce very
expensive water, the Water Industry Alliance (WIA) says.

Joe Flynn from the WIA says it is "great to see a water focus" in the election campaign
but he is cautious about the promises being made.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says a coalition government will spend $400 million to
boost stores in Menindee Lakes, potentially saving up to 200 billion litres of water a
year.

Further downstream, the aim was to boost the Coorong, near the mouth of the Murray
River, by delivering some 100 billion litres.

Mr Flynn said it was great to see some investment in the health of the Coorong but
he was "a little suspicious" about the 100 billion litres.

"The investment in Menindee is long, long overdue," he said on Wednesday.

"I don't think it is the most efficient use of money in terms of dollars per megalitre.

"It is very, very expensive water."

He said Labor had taken a great step with plans to continue with the buyback but the
downside was the time frame.

If it continued at the same rate, it could mean ten more years of uncertainty for farmers
and rural communities not knowing whether to stay or sell.

AAP lk/maur

KEYWORD: POLL10 LAKES WIA REISSUING

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