Leave water recycling to Mother Nature

The Bracks Government re-election represents the electorate's confidence in the steady-as-she goes administration.

But government is also about leadership.  This has been avoided by Deputy Premier John Thwaites in his capacity as environment minister.

Green zealotry makes the environment portfolio an unenviable job.  That's why Mr Thwaites wanted to move to the less stressful role of attorney-general.

Many Bracks Government decisions have pandered to environmentalist pressures.  Water policy represents the biggest failure.

This year's drought has left Melbourne's water storage levels at 40 per cent below last year's.  The key Thompson dam is at only 27 per cent capacity.

Ironically, the effects of the drought are amplified by state reafforestation.  New trees absorb water that would otherwise flow to rivers.

This year's water shortage illustrates the risks timid governments take when surrendering to green activists opposed to new dams and other needed capital works.

The state water authorities used to develop plans for water storage increases to keep pace with the growth of the urban area.

In the 1990s, there were plans for a dam on the Mitchell.  This would have been in commission by now -- 23 years after the previous major dam on the Thompson had been filled.

Over 23 years, Melbourne's population has increased more than 30 per cent.  Naturally the city requires more water.

Contrary to green myths, water is available.  Although it is valuable, almost 80 per cent is used for irrigation.

Farmers will sell their water allocations if the price is right and shift into different agricultural activities or invest in water-saving measures.

Urban consumers would have to pay for water bought from farmers and for a new dam or a diversion facility to the existing Thompson dam.

But this would mean an increase in water bills of less than 15 per cent for all the water that city people want.

The alternative water-restriction policy entails far greater costs.  It requires a new bureaucracy to which businesses have to report (normally concocted) claims of how they are saving water.

It means that some businesses, like those involved in providing sporting facilities, face severe problems of survival.  Water restrictions for many such businesses cause their facilities to deteriorate and may also pose safety risks.

We are also examining increasingly costly and bizarre plans for water recycling.

Recycling water is what nature does.  Water falls as rain and eventually returns to the oceans -- some of it via human bodies.  It becomes naturally purified in the oceans before being evaporated, falling as rain and continuing the cycle.

Why interfere with nature's processes with expedited desalination or purification?  The earth's water cycle is a closed system -- there is no more to be created and none is lost.

The Prime Minister has a National Water Commission.  This should prod the State Government to adopt more rational policies on these matters.

Victoria's "Mediterranean" climate will always face recurring droughts.

Nonetheless, it supports a population which is less than one-tenth of that of the European countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea.

Yet it is us and not those European countries who are said to have a problem!

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