Page 1842 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 4 May 2011
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Of most concern was a public perception that any public consultation the government did undertake was nothing more than paying lip-service to local residents. They felt that the government was listening neither to their concerns nor to their suggestions about how the project might be improved. These concerns sounded warning bells for Mrs Dunne. She felt that similar issues might arise in relation to other urban waterway projects the government was engaged in or was planning. Indeed $7 million is budgeted for the 2011-12 financial year, with a further $500,000 budgeted for next year, to construct a stormwater reticulation network in the inner north.
Since that time Mrs Dunne has engaged in discussion with people in the water industry who have something to say about greywater use in the territory. The outcome of these discussions suggested that the government again was not listening to the industry. Indeed the minister said as much in his answer to question on notice No 1233, published in Hansard on 9 December last year. The minister acknowledged that a number of commercial operators had been in discussion with his department and the Environment Protection Authority over a period of 12 months. Once again we saw a government paying lip-service, this time to the business community. The minister said in the answer to that question that the government had “an open mind to evaluating the introduction of the latest technologies and solutions”. But then the minister immediately qualified that open-mindedness by saying:
… it would be remiss of me not to highlight that historically, there are a number of problems associated with the promotion of grey water systems.
He then proceeded to make a long list of those problems. The minister’s response suggests two things. Firstly, both the minister and the government are stuck in the past. They are fixated on the historical problems and they are stuck in the perception that those historical problems continue today. Secondly, the minister and the government, in fact, have a very closed mind as to today’s, and indeed tomorrow’s, technologies. The minister does not seem to understand that the use of untreated greywater, even in subsurface irrigation, let alone the government’s greywater hose program or via buckets, is unhygienic and can lead to health issues.
The minister does not seem to understand that the health issues do not arise when treated and sanitised greywater is used. For example, reclaimed water from the Fyshwick treatment plant has been used on the Duntroon ovals for many years. The minister does not seem to understand that the current initiative to install separate greywater plumbing in new domestic premises to the edge of the slab does not make it cheaper to install domestic greywater treatment systems. The minister does not seem to understand that greywater systems are expensive because of a lack of appropriate regulation and the myriad approvals that are required. These conditions also encourage disreputable operators and discourage reputable companies who want to operate in a professional business environment.
The minister does not seem to have the nous to properly train plumbers in the installation of greywater systems. Worst of all, this government and its minister seem more intent on bandaid solutions than truly lasting sustainable solutions.
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