Power station's dam water use 'scandalous' ...

From ABC News:

Power station's dam water use 'scandalous'

25 July 2006

The Queensland Opposition Leader says it is scandalous that Swanbank power station will be drawing more water from Brisbane's main dam.

The power station has always used water from Wivenhoe Dam but it also drew from the Moogerah Dam near Boonah.

But Moogerah Dam levels are now too low meaning the power station will take another 1,050 megalitres from Wivenhoe.

Lawrence Springborg says a recycled water pipeline should already be up and running to free up drinking water.

"This is absolutely nonsensical but it was completely avoidable," he said.

"That's why the Coalition actually started to build for the future of Queensland some eight years ago by moving towards some investment in a recycled water pipeline which would have been built four years ago and not in four years' time."

Energy Minister John Mickel says the power station has not exceeded its allocation.

"Swanbank through CS Energy has put in place water saving strategies that over the last five years has seen its water intake reduced by over 20 per cent," he said.

"Swanbank at the moment is using far less than the amount of water allocated to it."

Source - ABC News - Power station still drawing dam water.