Tuesday, November 02, 2004

WHAT BANNING DAMS LEADS TO

Another Greenie dilemma. It's awkward when you're against everything!

"A desalination plant may help solve Sydney's water shortage but it would produce about the same amount of greenhouse gas emissions as more than 50,000 extra cars on the road each year. Figures produced by the NSW Government when it was preparing its water policy suggest the climate may be sacrificed for the sake of guaranteeing future water supplies. The water produced by the Government's plant would be less than amount saved by two-tiered pricing system to penalise heavy water-users, permanent low-level restrictions and minimum performance standards for water appliances.

The decision to embrace desalination, which turns saltwater into drinkable water, shows the Government is serious about Sydney's long-term water future and that it recognises people are not necessarily willing to use less water on a permanent basis. The 25-year plan for Sydney's water supply, which was released last month, includes a pipeline to transport extra water from the Shoalhaven, tapping ground-water, accessing deep water at the bottom of dams and a $4 million desalination study.

The size of desalination plant the Government is considering would be able to produce about 100 million litres of water a day and about 255,500 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions a year, about the same as adding 53,000 cars to the roads. It would be the world's largest desalination plant and could be built within two years. The current largest plant, being built south of Perth, is set to produce 45 billion litres of water and about 230,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions a year, according to figures from the West Australian Government. Environmental groups and water experts have urged the NSW Government to exhaust all other options before considering desalination.

The Premier, Bob Carr, described desalination earlier this year as "bottled electricity" because of the high amount of greenhouse gases it produces. However, at the water policy launch last month, Mr Carr said desalination was becoming cheaper and less greenhouse-intensive. The emissions could be offset by investing in renewable energy and creating plantations".

Is this a breakthrough? A Greenie recognizing that any "excess" carbon dioxide can be soaked up by trees and plants? He'll find himself on a slippery slope if he even thinks about that for long. Instead of stupid attacks on industry, Greenies might actually plant trees! What a strange thing for a Greenie to do! A Greenie doing something constructive really would be a revolution





BUREAUCRACY INSTEAD OF WATER

What happens when a service is provided by a bureaucracy rather than by business

Mackay is a small Australian coastal city with a good annual rainfall (20") and a huge underground water table. So there would be no problems with water-supply there -- right? Wrong! They are run by a local council who think that a proliferation of bureaucratic rules is better than providing an adequate water supply to the citizens. From the rules you would think Mackay was in the middle of a desert. Get a load of this crap from the site of the local council:


"A summary of the Level 3 Water Restrictions that will apply from November 15 follows:

Lawn and Grassed Areas

Sprinklers are not permitted at any time

Lawn and grassed areas can only be watered using a hand-held hose fitted with a trigger device that shuts off water supply when released, between 6am and 7am and 6pm and 7pm on any day.

Private Gardens

Private gardens (excluding grass and lawns) can only be watered using:

A micro-spray and drip irrigation system that has a manual or electronic timer on alternate days* between 8pm that night and 6am the following morning

* (Properties with an odd street number or properties without a street number on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, and properties with an even street number on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. No watering is allowed on Mondays)

OR

A hose fitted with a trigger device that automatically shuts off water when released, between 6am and 7am and 6pm and 7pm on any day. The hose must be under the control of, or the supervision of, a person aged 16 years and older.

Watering cans and buckets can be used at any time.

Pools & Water Toys

New spas and pools must not be filled for the first time without Council's written approval
Existing swimming pools or spas must not be topped up
Portable wading pools must not be filled or topped up
Water toys must not be used unless water is re-circulated
Fountains and water ornaments must not operate except with the written approval of Council

Cleaning and Private Vehicle Washing

Privately owned cars, boats and other vehicles can only be washed on Sundays using a hand-held trigger hose, watering can, commercial car wash facility or high-pressure low-volume water blaster. Water must be used only to wet and rinse the vehicle.
Water must not be used to clean paved or concreted areas, except for health or safety reasons.
Water must not be used to clean windows except by means of a watering can or buckets filled directly from a tap.

Note: These water restrictions only relate to the private residential use of water. For details of the restrictions that apply to all commercial gardens including sports grounds and nurseries, and motor vehicle and boat dealers and detailers, please contact Council's Customer Service Centre."


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Many people would like to be kind to others so Leftists exploit that with their nonsense about equality. Most people want a clean, green environment so Greenies exploit that by inventing all sorts of far-fetched threats to the environment. But for both, the real motive is to promote themselves as wiser and better than everyone else, truth regardless.

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