What is the latest information on measures to secure Sydneys water supply in this and future droughts?
Mr NATHAN REES: I thank the member for his longstanding interest in this matter. The Metropolitan Water Plan is the Iemma Government’s blueprint for the supply of water for the next 50 years for Australia’s largest city; a $350 billion economy underpinning one-third of Australia’s economy. We are securing Sydney’s water supply with the biggest water infrastructure spend in Australian history. As one drought response strategy under the plan, the Sydney Catchment Authority began detailed groundwater studies in 2006 when Sydney’s total dam storage dropped below 40 per cent. The bore fields were a measure developed in the face of extreme drought, when our dam levels were getting critically low. It is sobering to remember that early last year our dam storages were about 33 per cent. However, few people realise that without water restrictions over the previous three years of drought, without the transfer of water from the Shoalhaven River, and other water management measures, early last year
