The Trouble with Tillegra
The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal delivered its draft determination for water and sewerage pricing in the Hunter on the eve of ANZAC Day. (NH 24.4.09). The tribunal determined how to extract a selective tax from Hunter households for expensive, destructive and unnecessary infrastructure. Namely the proposed $400+ million Tillegra Dam.
If IPART could act independently it could assess whether the Tillegra Dam decision is justified. All available evidence shows that it is not.
The tribunal acknowledged Hunter Water’s alternative drought security strategy would cost only $155 million.
Storages are currently at capacity. Department of Environment and Climate Change forecasts (as at October 2008) show a slight increase in annual runoff in the Hunter to 2050. Hunter Water’s own data shows that 160,000 extra population will not have any significant impact on storage levels and the Corporation has yet to develop long-term water saving rules to reduce demand.
IPART has been prevented by a directive from the NSW Water Minister from assessing the justification for the proposed dam. There is no hurry to build the dam or pay for it during this current 4 year pricing period. It is time for an independent assessment.