I saw this enigmatic headline on the ABC – Adelaide’s desalination plant considered a ‘tool’ to boost irrigation allocations during drought – I realize that desalination proponents have taken Australian water policy into the paranormal – but producing expensive desal water to be able to boost irrigation allocations at a time when few areas of SA would be in drought – takes the cake.
March rain to date
Nothing like making more expensive, energy intensive desal water in order to enable more of the precious compound to be “spared” so it can be flush out to sea?
And who’s going to pay for that? Certainly not the drought-affected farmers, who can’t spare a zack during drought to pay for the world’s most expensive water.
And a lack of water during droughts comes about because of what, exactly? Might it be a lack of dams, because modern greens don’t like dams?
Seriously, I can’t think of a single major greens policy which doesn’t cost a shedload more than the existing solution, for a inferior product. And yet, a significant portion of the population votes for these carpet-baggers.
67% of Australian water supply is used for irrigation and most of that grows animal feed.
irrigation.org.au/about-us/about-australian-irrigation
Using desal water to grow fodder makes as much sense, as using planes to dowse bushfires.
If there is a flood at Kooweerup, they will probably start up the Victorian Desalination Plant in Dalyston, just to flush out some of the drainage ditches between Bayles and Catani. So much better than saving money by building a dam on the Mitchell River at low cost.
Got a laugh from this ABC news showing the Adelaide water authority has forgotten how to run their network without pipes bursting.
Burst water pipe worries continue across Adelaide, as Glenside street is flooded
www.abc.net.au/news/2016-03-23/burst-water-pipe-worries-continue-adelaide/7270190?WT.ac=localnews_adelaide
Broken Hill’s current water supply crisis is typical of the man-made water management disasters currently overtaking Australia. From having plenty of water to meet future needs in 2013, even in spite of drought conditions, the Menindee Lakes were virtually drained to meet the requirements of the MDBA. Much of that water went straight into the ocean for “environmental flows”. Thanks very much Chairman Mal for your contribution at the time as Environment Minister, much of the blame for the current MDBA mess must rest at your feet.
Broken Hill normally gets much of its water supply from the Menindee Lakes, where the recent mismanagement of water has apparently been breathtaking.
Menindee Lakes Caravan Park managers Tim and Sammie Walter have had their business all but destroyed because of the lack of water in the Lakes. Mr Walter had this to say about the management of flows between the Darling River and Menindee Lakes:
So why should we complain, after all, if it’s considered rational government policy to attempt to supply electricity using unaffordable, intermittent, medieval technology (windmills) then why shouldn’t we flush our free water from the sky into the ocean and replace it with expensive, energy intensive, desal water? I guess it’s simply progressive, “innovative” thinking.