Northern Territory Government Breaks Effluent Promise

The revelations today that PAWA is pumping raw sewage, condoms and plastic bags into Darwin Harbour exposed a 2003 Labor lie that the problem was going to be fixed by December 2003.

The Power and Water Corporation’s Environment Report 2003 (page 8) says,

“Stage Two of the plant upgrade is required prior to transferring the Larrakeyah sewerage catchment to Ludmilla. The Macerator Unit at Larrakeyah will then be decommissioned, improving the quality of effluent discharged to the Darwin Harbour…It is planned to complete the model catchment in December 2003.”

“This promise clearly hasn’t been kept by this Government.” Shadow Essential Services Minister Dr Richard Lim said today.

“The fact that this material is flowing from that outlet is evidence that the promise was not kept. The questions that now need to be asked are: ‘Where did the money go that was supposed to go to this infrastructure?’ and ‘What is the Government going to do now?

“This was supposed to be fixed years ago. A scuba diver with a camera to swimming through raw effluent to expose Government deceit is a good metaphor for what it is like dealing with the Government.

“PAWA’s response to blame people for putting the wrong things down toilets misses the point. Nothing should be coming out of that pipe at all.

“There is also a regulator who looks after this and that is the Minister Essential Services, Paul Henderson. Why has he been silent on this or is it the case that he’s not looking too hard? It must be remembered that PAWA’s one and only shareholder is the Treasurer and he sits right next to the Minister for Essential Services in cabinet.

“The licences are also overseen by the Minister for the Environment, Marion Scrymgour. She too is missing in action on this issue. It must be remembered that “One condition of the licence requires Power and Water to enhance the hydrodynamic model of Darwin Harbour.” That condition was outlined on page 8 of the report and clearly has not been met.” Dr Lim said.

2006-06-13