Federal election - K Rudd dodges the potable reuse bullet ...

K Rudd fails to emphatically embrace recycled water for drinking, instead talking up the benefits of desalination and stormwater harvesting.

Excerpt from the Sydney Morning Herald:

Labor promises $1b for water projects

28 October 2007

A federal Labor government would commit $1 billion towards storm water harvesting and desalination projects to help secure Australia's urban water supplies.

Announcing the policy on Sunday at the Tugun desalination plant being built on Queensland's Gold Coast, Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd declared there was an "acute" need for major action on urban water supplies.

Mr Rudd's plan would provide tax credits of 10 per cent - with a capped maximum benefit of $100 million - towards water projects.

"The need to fix urban water supplies and urban water security long-term (is) acute and needs new national leadership," he told reporters.

"This $1 billion desalination and urban water plan for Australia is designed to provide funding support for desalination plants across the country and also provide funding support for recycling and other water projects concerning the harvesting of storm water."

Mr Rudd acknowledged states had not made perfect decisions over the years when it came to urban water supplies, but said the federal government had national responsibility to be involved.

The water tax credits would be fully available from 2009 as grants to state and local governments as well as the private sector.

Mr Rudd said the $1 billion package could leverage up to $10 billion in new water projects.

He defended desalination, which had been criticised for its energy consumption.

All projects to receive funding would be required to be carbon neutral.

Mr Rudd also announced he plans to establish a centre of excellence in desalination in Perth and a centre of excellence in water recycling in Brisbane.
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See - Rudd defends desalination.