Pledge to limit desalination water orders unless storages are less than 60pc

Victoria’s desalination plant will only operate under specific conditions, with the Coalition slamming Labor for expensive water orders.

The opposition says desalination orders should only be made when water storages drop below 60 per cent. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Expensive desalination water orders that drive up household bills would be banned unless Melbourne storages dropped below 60 per cent full, under a Victorian coalition pledge.

The cost of living election policy would limit desal orders of between 50 and 150 billion litres to times when dams dipped below Melbourne Water’s “secure” zone.

Opposition water spokeswoman and deputy Nationals leader Steph Ryan said Labor had been “driving up water bills by ordering water when we don’t need it” – pointing to last year’s $77m order of 125 billion litres when storages were at 72 per cent.

Ms Ryan said the desal plant would still augment storages when supplies were threatened, but with dams now fuller than at any time since the 1990s there was no need to top them up.

“The Andrews government is running the desal plant flat chat when Melbourne’s storages are at risk of spilling,” she said.

“Spending $77m on an unnecessary water order sends a terrible message to Victorians when so many sectors and industries are on their knees as a result of the Labor government’s failed response to the pandemic.”

Inside Victoria’s desalination plant in Dalyston. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Last year, acting water Minister Richard Wynne ordered 125 billion litres of water, which was based on a Melbourne Water technical analysis.

That analysis flagged a further 125 billion litre order for the following two years, but was based on La Nina passing its peak early last year and a risk of storages falling into the medium zone – or below 60 per cent – in 2022.

Storages rose to a peak of 90 per cent in December, and are at 86 per cent today.

The government is yet to reveal whether it will order water this year.

It has says storages would be 15 per cent lower today without desalinated water added since 2017, and that water bills have not risen overall, despite tens of millions being spent on desal water.

Ms Ryan said storages had been “secure” since October 2019 and that even with 15 per cent less storage they would still be within that zone, and that bills would be lower without expensive orders.

“Despite this, the Andrews government continues to order desalination water, at a cost to Melbourne households and businesses,” she said.

“Only a Liberals and Nationals government will relive the cost of living with common sense policies that support the financial recovery of Victorian families and businesses.”