GOVERNMENT COPIES DEBUS WATER PLAN
November 6, 2007

Labor candidate for Macquarie Bob Debus today welcomed the Government's announcement that it would duplicate Labor's water plan to relieve pressure on the Fish River .

" I am very flattered that the Government has copied my plan to save the Fish River," said Mr Debus.

" Five weeks ago, I announced an integrated water plan that I developed with the Lithgow City Council and Oberon Council.

" Now Water and Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull has copied that plan.

" It is widely known in the Central West that the Fish River has been under pressure for many years, with a subsequent knock-on effect for the Murray-Darling Basin .

" Now, after ignoring calls for help from local authorities for 11 years, the Government has finally listened.

" Eighteen days from an election, Mr Turnbull fires his best shot by copying Labor's plan for the threatened Fish River .

" The Howard Government has been complacent about water and climate.

" Mr Turnbull seems to expend most of his energy throwing rocks at state and territory governments rather than working cooperatively to develop good policy that addresses local problems.

" Perhaps the Government would also care to copy Labor's plans to work in partnership with the States, territories and local government to end the blame game over issues like this."

Labor's $4.6 million plan involves upgrading the Clarence Water Transfer System, supplying the Lithgow Golf Club with recycled water from the Lithgow Sewerage Treatment Plant, and suppling the Oberon Timber Complex with recycled water from the Oberon sewerage treatment plant.

" This will help secure our future with the smart use of water by saving more than four billion litres currently taken from the Fish River every year," said Mr Debus.

These projects will:

· Integrate existing schemes for water supply and treatment, sewage treatment and mine discharge
· Secure household water supplies
· Help with drought protection
· Improve the quality of water going into the Sydney catchment
· Relieve the stressed Fish River
· Protect jobs because water is guaranteed for vital local industries such as the Oberon Timber Complex