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Friday September 3, 2010

What we're talking about

Your Say: New Vic water plan

Posted by: 3AW.com.au | 24 November, 2008 - 10:40 AM

UPDATE: Rob Skinner, Melbourne Water, explains to 3AW Breakfast's Ross and John why he believes dams are not the answer to the water crisis in Victoria.

The water issue in the state is generating massive debate - read some of the comments posted by readers below and add your own.

LAST WEEK: Melburnians will be asked to limit water use to 155 litres a day - or less - per person under new water savings measures announced this morning by Premier John Brumby and Water Minister Tim Holding.

With water storage levels at record lows heading into the summer months, the government has opted against setting level 4 water restrictions and instead asking for a 'voluntary' effort from Melbourne residents.

At the moment, 165 litres per day is the average daily use for a person in Melbourne. Under the plan, it is believed a four-minute shower is the maximum length a person can take.

Listen to 3AW's Neil Mitchell grill Water Minister Tim Holding (below) on how a seemingly uncontrollable plan will be monitored by the government.

Neil Mitchell grills water minister

Minister Holding says business and industry will be asked to restrict water use, but could not give an exact figure.

If you are from Melbourne, do you think you will be able to restrict your use to 155 litres? Do you even know what 155 litres of water allows for you to do in a day?

If you are from outside Melbourne, do you think the 'voluntary' measures are tough enough in such difficult times for rural Victoria?

Blog comments Your Say

  • When it comes to any logical discussion about water, too many people live too close to a river called de nile~!

    Lenny Tuesday 28 July, 2009 - 12:26 PM

  • Gunammatta dumps 150GL of water out to sea ,The desal plant down Kilcunda is less then 60 km from Gunammatta. This desal plant will suck 150GL of water in.

    Dom Tuesday 28 July, 2009 - 10:16 AM

  • All houses should have water tanks. A new dam should be built because when it does eventually pour down and flood - and it will. History shows that - it will be needed.

    Inara Friday 24 July, 2009 - 1:49 PM

  • There are so many insane ideas when it comes to water. Firstly, there's NO point building further dams when there's NO rainfall to fill it. Secondly, we already have enough dams. We just don't get sufficient rainfall OR the majority of it tends to fall in the bay. Australia was always predicted to be the driest continent on the planet, particularly once global warming - really kicked in. Realistically we have TWO options - we either pump it down from the north, or we use the desalinated water option. Both options are expensive. Personally I think we should have foregone the tax breaks & invested the money into water-related infrastructure. It would have created jobs and contributed to our water/food supply. We should have built a pumping station on the coast, and a desalination plant inland for country Victoria. Both forms of infrastructure would have created ongoing employment. The problem always was that governments left it far too late before deciding to do something constructive about the problem. The 155 litre program is just wank (only delaying the inevitable)! We HAVE to produce more water one way or the other, regardless of whether it's desalinated or piped down from up north. With rising temperatures & limited rainfall, food production had to move up north, where there is unlimited water and land. Australia is not the only country to suffer from extreme drought conditions. Our river systems are basically streams compared to the US, and yet the US has massive problems with rising drought, limited water supplies and extensive water restrictions.

    Lenny Sunday 8 March, 2009 - 6:32 PM

  • This government has been instrumental in causing the shortage of water by poor management and no infrastructure. They have WASTED millions of dollars and now they need to double water prices to quickly build expensive water factories.
    My land tax has tripled. Stuff this useless government I pay more than enough in taxes and get ZIP. I will use as much water as I want.

    Bozo Friday 6 March, 2009 - 7:39 PM

  • Also the construction and building industries use ALOT of drinking water for mixing cement and mortars, the washing down of walls and tools, its industry using all the water

    Vaughan Saturday 31 January, 2009 - 1:10 PM

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