No Tillegra Dam Group

Total Environment Centre Media Release…

Gosford and Wyong Councils have delivered a sharp rebuke to the proposed Tillegra Dam on the Williams River as part of the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) review of water prices for the Central Coast the Total Environment Centre (TEC) said today.

TEC Urban Campaigner Mr Leigh Martin said ‘Hunter Water is proposing that construction of Tillegra Dam begin in mid 2010, however, in setting out their revenue requirements for the next four years Gosford and Wyong Councils have made no provision for meeting any of the construction or operating costs for Tillegra Dam. This is a clear sign that Tillegra Dam is neither needed nor wanted for the Central Coast.’

The Councils’ submissions to IPART’s price review seeks an increase in the average residential water bill of 8% per annum over four years to cover the cost of the proposed Mardi-Mangrove pipeline, however, no provision has been made for operational and capital expenditure to cover Tillegra Dam.

Hunter Water has argued that the $400M Tillegra Dam is needed to provide water for the Hunter and Central Coast. However its own documentation shows that the dam was rated second last of all possible supply options and wouldn?t be needed for at least 30 years, while Gosford and Wyong Councils’ preferred Mardi-Mangrove pipeline will secure the Central Coast’s water supply until at least 2047 for only $70M.

‘If Tilegra Dam is approved, Central Coast water users will be forced to pay a massive increase in bills over and above the 8% per annum currently being proposed by Gosford and Wyong Councils to support their own water supply strategy. This is despite the Councils’ submissions making it clear the Mardi-Mangrove pipeline provide a secure supply for at least 40 years at a fraction of the cost of Tillegra Dam,’ Mr Martin said.

With the NSW Government desperate to preserve the State’s AAA credit rating and fears that the final cost of Tillegra Dam may be closer to $1 billion, TEC has called on the State Government to abandon Tillegra Dam and avoid plunging the State further into unnecessary debt. ‘With Hunter Water storages close to full despite the worst drought on record and Gosford and Wyong Councils making it clear they do not need Tillegra Dam there is simply no justification for proceeding with this expensive and environmentally damaging white elephant. Scrapping the dam would save between $400 million and $1 billion in additional borrowings that simply isn?t needed,’ Mr Martin said.

Further Information:
Leigh Martin, Urban Water Campaigner or Jeff Angel, Director
(02) 9261 3447
www.tec.nccnsw.org.au