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Sewage spilled into sydney harbour a "cheap fix"

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Sewage spilled into sydney harbour a "cheap fix"

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This story reports on the NSW government and Sydney Water plans to introduce an additional 25 waste water overflow outfalls in Sydney Harbour. Waste water outfalls are designed to divert sewage and waste water into waterways instead of back-flowing into residential and commercial buildings during periods of very heavy rainfall. Both NSW premier (at the time) Mike Baird and Sydney Water spokesperson defend the plans by first employing a "but they do it too" argument, claiming that utilisation of sewage outfalls are common practice and other states are doing the same. Premiere Baird also appeals to the rate paying audience, stating that the plan represents an "affordable" and good "value" option. This eludes to the idea that other more expensive options may result in increased rates, subtly introducing an element of fear to persuade the public towards accepting the plan. On the other hand, the Shadow Minister for Environment spokesperson and Sydney Mayor Clover Moore employ clever language choice to paint an alternate picture of the plan, exchanging "affordable" for a "cheap fix", and challenging "widely used" with terms that imply a negative connotation including "taking backwards steps", and "going back to the 50's". Finally, while critics of the plans suggest there are better options and newer technology, worth the investment to protect Sydney Harbour waterways, the government proponents appeal to the decision of "the experts", which is a common argument often flawed when it implies the decision must be the best one because it was made by "experts", although there are no experts that are completely impartial or all-knowing and the opinion of the expert is never unchallengeable.

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Updated March 03, 2016 16:36:07

Sydney Water should not be reverting to building old-fashioned sewage outfalls that will pump untreated effluent into Sydney Harbour when so much has been done to clean it up, the New South Wales Opposition says.

The organisation is constructing 25 new overflow pipes around the harbour and other waterways, including planned structures at Mosman and Putney and one that is about to be built at Drummoyne Wharf.

In a statement, Sydney Water said the pipe at Drummoyne would be positioned about eight metres out into the Parramatta River and the overflow was only expected about twice a year.

"The position of the wastewater emergency relief structure minimises any impacts to human health and on aquatic species and vegetation habitat," the statement said.

"The wastewater released during extreme wet weather is highly diluted and is around 99 per cent water."

Sydney Water said the outflows were regulated by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and prevented the sewage from overflowing back into people's bathrooms and laundries during extremely heavy rain.

It said similar measures were widely used in all wastewater networks across Australia and around the globe.

But Labor's environment spokeswoman Penny Sharpe said the new outfalls were outdated and a "cheap fix".

To be talking about polluting the Harbour with outfalls now is again going back to the 50s.

Sydney Lord Mayor, Clover Moore

"In 2016 there should not be 25 locations where raw sewage is finding its way into our water ways," she said.

"There are modern solutions where sewage is not just simply pumped into the waterways yet it appears that Sydney Water just do not have the money to be fixing it and that is unacceptable."

She said there were solutions available that were able to store effluent during stormwater events.

"They are then able to treat it and release it in a safe way," Ms Sharpe said.

"We've spent decades cleaning up Sydney Harbour.

"This is a backwards step and a quick fix if we allow raw sewerage just to go back into the waterways every time it rains."

'No deterioration in the situation': Premier

But NSW Premier Mike Baird said the use of overflow pipes was a common practice that had been used on regular occasions.

I think Sydney water is doing everything it can be and should be to ensure customers are looked after and there is no negative impact.

"The advice I have is there is no deterioration in the situation, there is stormwater that runs off regardless," he said.

"What they're trying to do specifically in this instance is to look at a situation where stormwater comes into local sewage and has impacts at local residences and their land."

Mr Baird said this situation would only happen in "heavy, heavy rainfall".

He said it was best to rely on the experts to provide a solution.

"Those experts at Sydney Water are consulting with EPA and Health [Department] and providing appropriate solutions," Mr Baird said.

"I think Sydney water is doing everything it can be and should be to ensure customers are looked after and there is no negative impact in terms of the overall solutions they are providing."

Mr Baird said on an ongoing basis Sydney Water would have to make significant infrastructure decisions impacting entire communities or regions, together with bespoke solutions for a smaller amount of households.

"What Sydney Water must do is make appropriate decisions in those circumstances and must make sure there is value for taxpayers in those circumstances.

"Obviously, they want to invest as required but want to keep our waters bills as low as possible and that's overseen by a regulator."

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the harbour was the city's "jewel".

"To be talking about polluting the harbour with outfalls now is again going back to the 50s," Cr Moore said.

Dividends should be put into modern fixes: Opposition

Labor's Ms Sharpe said Sydney Water's actions came at a time when the Government had been increasing the dividends it had been taking from water utilities.

The Government has gouged Sydney Water to bump up its bottom line; that's clear from the budget papers and it's clear from the figures from the auditor-general.

NSW Labor environment spokeswoman Penny Sharpe

She cited figures from a recent auditor-general's report, which showed that from 2014 to 2105 the dividend the Government took from Sydney Water increased by $412 million.

When combined with the increased dividends from other water utilities, Ms Sharpe said the Government was raking in an extra $1 billion.

"The auditor-general indicated that last year the Government took $1 billion out of water utilities to go into consolidate revenue for the Government," she said.

"It needs to be allocating some of that money to modern infrastructure fixes that are going to ensure that raw sewage doesn't end up in the harbour.

"The Government has gouged Sydney Water to bump up its bottom line; that's clear from the budget papers and it's clear from the figures from the auditor-general."

Sydney Water defended its spending on sewerage infrastructure.

"Sydney Water's expenditure on wastewater infrastructure alone last financial year was over $358 million and we have invested over $2 billion in total capital expenditure since financial year 2010-2011," a spokesman said.

A spokeswoman from the officer of Minister for Primary Industries, Lands and Water Niall Blair denied the dividend payments were taking away from infrastructure.

"Sydney Water's dividend payments to government are not expected to place additional pressure on services, quality or reliability," she said in a statement.

"Sydney Water continues to make significant investment in the city's water infrastructure to ensure the reliability of the system and the protection of public health and the environment."

Topics: state-parliament, government-and-politics, water-management, environment, sydney-2000

First posted March 03, 2016 09:42:14

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Sewage spilled into Sydney Harbour a 'cheap fix'

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Updated March 03, 2016 16:36:07 Sydney Water should not be reverting to building old-fashioned sewage outfalls that will pump untreated effluent into Sydney Harbour when so much has been done to clean it up, the New South Wales Opposition says.

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Federal Env Minister, Josh Frydenberg, on sharks

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Federal Env Minister, Josh Frydenberg, on sharks

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Updated April 20, 2017 20:41:36

Federal Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg has ramped up the pressure on the McGowan Government to introduce shark mitigation strategies such as deploying drum lines or culling, following a fatal attack.

Laeticia Brouwer, 17, was attacked and killed by a shark off the Esperance coast while surfing with her father - the 15th fatality since 2000.

The new Labor State Government did not deploy drum lines to catch the shark and has rejected culling the animals.

The Government said it would announce strategies that promote personal shark deterrents in the coming weeks.

WA Fisheries Minister Dave Kelly said on Wednesday that there was no evidence shark culls made beaches safer.

It prompted Mr Frydenberg to ask why the WA Government does not act.

"After 15 shark fatalities in less than 20 years in Western Australia it's time the [WA] Government put people first and sharks second," he said.

"Look at the Queensland Government, look at the New South Wales Government - they've had to deal with the threat from sharks in their own states and there are drum lines, there are nets in place.

"Why doesn't Western Australia go down the same path?"

Mr Frydenberg said he was open to considering whatever measures the State Government comes up with.

"Be it more nets, drum lines, or indeed culling, in order to protect Western Australians from the threat of the great white shark," he said.

WA Fisheries Minister Dave Kelly said the Federal Government should instead fund more research, saying most of the work done on great whites was on the east coast and not WA.

"He could give us some funding for that, he could assist us with funding to fast track the research and development assessment of some of these individual shark deterrents," Mr Kelly said.

Shark mitigation Senate inquiry

A Senate inquiry into shark mitigation was held in Perth on Thursday.

Surf Life Saving WA general manager Chris Peck told the committee the threat of sharks was impacting the Australian way of life.

"I don't think it's just the number of shark attacks that are ruining our way of life, it's the presence of sharks generally," Mr Peck said outside the inquiry.

"It's limiting the ability of people to go to the beach and recreate the way they want to."

Professor Jessica Meeuwig from the Centre for Marine Futures at the University of Western Australia told the inquiry there was good evidence culling did not work.

"We need to avoid having these ridiculous debates in media where we're framing it as shark huggers who put sharks ahead of human lives," she said.

"That's not the debate.

"The debate is how do you best invest dollars in solving a problem that is tricky.

"It's not through lethal methods we know that."

Sea Shepherd Australia managing director Jeff Hansen said the debate around shark safety "needs to mature".

"It's not about killing sharks, or not killing sharks; it's about putting forth real solutions. It's proven that killing sharks does nothing for public safety."

The inquiry will hear from Fisheries Minister Dave Kelly later today.

Topics: shark, animal-attacks, human-interest, federal---state-issues, government-and-politics, esperance-6450, wa, australia

First posted April 20, 2017 16:48:48

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WA Government should 'put people first and sharks second' Frydenberg says

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Updated April 20, 2017 20:41:36 Federal Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg has ramped up the pressure on the McGowan Government to introduce shark mitigation strategies such as deploying drum lines or culling, following a fatal attack. Laeticia Brouwer, 17, was attacked and killed by a shark off the Esperance coast while surfing with her father - the 15th fatality since 2000.