Canberra - no united front on recycled water ...

Excerpt from the Canberra Times:

Corbell breaks party ranks; 'I am calling for more caution'

12 April 2007

Planning Minister Simon Corbell is at loggerheads with his leader Jon Stanhope after breaking party ranks yesterday over recycled water.

Mr Corbell accused his own Government of not being sufficiently cautious about a proposal to put recycled sewage into Canberra's drinking water.

In reply, Mr Stanhope said he was ''surprised'' by the claim, and staunchly defended his record on recycled water.

The water spat came on the same day Mr Corbell criticised Mr Stanhope's method of releasing land for development, and hard on the heels of ALP divisions over hospital parking and busways.

Yesterday's difference of opinion began when Mr Corbell summoned The Canberra Times to his office to criticise the Government's push towards using recycled water.

He said the practice carried potentially serious health risks and would use too much electricity.

''I've realised there's a need for a more sceptical approach,'' he said. ''I'm concerned that the recent water policy is a fait accompli.

''I think as a Government we do need to be more critical of what's being proposed. ''I am calling for more caution.''

Mr Corbell cited health concerns raised by Canberra Hospital infectious diseases physician Peter Collignon about drinking recycled sewage.

Mr Corbell called for a fresh Government inquiry into the issue, focusing on the risks of prescription drugs persisting in the water supply.

He said he had a better solution to Canberra's water shortage retro-fitting houses with grey-water systems and rainwater tanks to minimise their use of drinking water.

The Government could pay for all or part of the cost of $10,000-$15,000 per house. Mr Stanhope, who as Water Minister has overseen Actew's $350million recycled water proposal, vigorously rejected any suggestion he would place Canberrans' health at risk.

''I am surprised that there's been any suggestion that the Government is not being sufficiently cautious,'' he said.

He defended the process by which the recycled water proposal was being evaluated. Actew's proposal on which the Government will make a final decision later this year is for 9 gigalitres of waste water per year to be purified by microfiltration, reverse osmosis and UV-disinfection, then pumped into an enlarged Cotter Dam.

Mr Stanhope said an independent, expert reference group of highly regarded members was examining the water purification methods from a health perspective. The Government had also sought detailed advice on the economics and environmental impact of recycling water. A group from Actew and the Government is currently touring the United States inspecting water purification methods.
...

See - No united front.