The Save Water Alliance wants to know why the State Government is preparing to spend up to $80 million for less than two weeks supply of water for Sydney.

According to documents included in the Department of Planning development application for the borefield, the estimated cost of the project will be between $60 million and $80 million.

Seventy production bores, 50km of pipeline and 11km of power line will be needed to deliver up to 15 billion litres of water a year over three years to Sydney as an emergency water supply.

But the Sydney Catchment Authority (SCA) admitted in 2006 that 15 billion litres of water would meet Sydney’s daily water needs for only two weeks.

The Robertson meeting will also discuss concerns about tree removal for the 10-wide power line corridor through private land and along Tourist Road.

Other topics up for debate is the acquisition of farmland by the SCA, mineral contamination of groundwater and SCA estimates of the volume of groundwater available.

Save Water Alliance member Denis Wilson said the SCA had already begun negotiations with one landowner to acquire land.

The SCA confirmed yesterday that negotiations had begun with two property owners to purchase their land for production and monitoring bores, water treatment, pipelines and power.

According to the SCA, the negotiations and pending sales have been by agreement with the landowners.

For the full story see the Southern Highland News, Friday, May 2