Topher's Unpopular View - Brumby's North South Pipeline

United Nations water adviser Maude Barlow criticised Victoria's plan to take water from the river system to Melbourne via the north-south pipeline as the "worst thing" the Brumby Government could do! However, the same could also be said about their plans for Wonthaggi's desalination plant. 1.2 million tonnes of greenhouse gases will be emitted each year once it starts boosting Melbourne's water supply. Any off-setting of greenhouse gas emissions with wind-power is just tokenism! The plant will take in 480 billion litres of seawater and pump back 280 billion litres of saline concentration each year. The effect of this pollution on the marine environment and biodiversity is being ignored, and the tides will not be as efficient in washing it away as proposed. The locals in Wonthaggi have not had any say about this development and a pristine beach will be lost. The cost of the plant will be passed onto consumers, with soaring water costs. Water should be a basic necessity and right, not a luxury item. Our Brumby Government speaks of “sustainable” developments, but it is all green-washing! The Australian Bureau of Statistics recently projected that Australia's population could rise to 42 million people by 2050, with Melbourne and Sydney both reaching nearly 7 million people each. This could mean our coastlines could be dotted by various desalination plants unless we become truly sustainable!