water, water, everywhere

Open letter to David Campbell, NSW Minister for Water Utilities.

Dear David,

I am a Concerned NSW resident, who also happens to reside in your electorate. There are some things I would like to discuss with you, knowing what a friendly and accessible kinda guy you are...

Why does your government insist on referring to recycled, or reclaimed, water as 'recycled sewage'??? That phrase, as you would be perfectly aware, has connotations of sludge coloured water gushing from our taps... but that's not true is it? In fact 'recycled water', having gone through an intricate filtration system, is actually purer than the water we get from our dams. And I bet you know this. Even better than I (and the rest of the 702 listening public) do. I'm not stupid, and most of the electorate isn't stupid, and yet Iemma was on the radio this morning, still insisting that the voters of NSW won't accept recycled water. Even though a sizable number of people in the Northwest of Sydney have been drinking recycled water for years with no ill effects. Even though the water than runs through pristine wilderness into the water catchments and thence into our water pipes, must have collected along the way an incalculable amount of wombat poo, and hence could be reasonably referred to as 'recycled sewage'.

This is not a time to be playing semantics. It's a time for definitive action. And you and Mr Iemma have let Mr Debnam steal a march on you. He's read the electorate and promised to spend the same amount as your desal plant, on recyling water back into the system.

I have been a Labor voter all my life. It would break my heart to vote Liberal, it really would. Even if it means the loss of the car import business at Port Kembla, even if it means the loss of those 20000 public service jobs, I might just have to do it. Because Water means so much more to me than ephemeral loyalty and principles.

Please, before it's too late, have a whisper in Iemma's ear before the debate on the ABC tonight, and get him to see that this is what the State wants and needs...

yours etc,

actonb.

I am about to email this to david@campbell.minister.nsw.gov.au and would like all of you to do the same.

And if he's nice, and emails something back along the lines of 'oh actonb! How could I have been so wrong! Of course, I will do what you ask immediately!' then I promise to refrain from referring to him as 'Tha Walrus' from now on...

UPDATE: Ha! He must have listened! New announcement on water recycling last night! I'm feeling all empowered....