LABOR REFUSES TO RELEASE BUSINESS CASE FOR EASTERN TREATMENT PLANT UPGRADE
3rd February 2010
The Brumby Government's refusal to release the business case for the Eastern Treatment Plant upgrade is another example of this government's track record of hiding behind Freedom of Information to avoid scrutiny, Shadow Minister for Urban Water Louise Asher said today.
In December last year, a Freedom of Information (FOI) request was lodged with Melbourne Water for a copy of the business case prepared for the Eastern Treatment Plant upgrade. The Opposition has to date been denied access and has requested an internal review on the decision.
The government claims the document is exempt for a number of reasons, including claims that it would be contrary to the public interest or that it is an internal working document.
"Surely the business case for the upgrade of the Eastern Treatment Plant is a vital document which should be released for public and industry scrutiny," Ms Asher said.
"The government has been dragging its feet on this upgrade, which has had three cost blow-outs, and there has been further delay on the date that Victorians will actually start receiving Class A recycled water from the Eastern Treatment Plant," Ms Asher said.
Ms Asher said the Labor Government had been spinning the line that the upgrade would be completed in 2012. However, the government has failed to reveal that Victorians may not actually get to use the recycled water until 2013.
The former Premier announced the upgrade "... would be completed by 2012" (Steve Bracks 18 October 2006). This has now been changed to "... completed by the end of 2012" (Melbourne Water website).
A timeline chart in the ‘Eastern Treatment Plant Upgrade: Information in Support of a Works Approval Application' has revealed that Victorians may not get to use the Class A recycled water until 2013. This is due to the fact that the recycled water from the treatment plant has to gain accreditation by the Department of Human Services and this is scheduled to occur between November 2012 and January 2013.
The cost of the Eastern Treatment Plant upgrade has also blown out for the third time from original $170 million in 2002, to $380 million now.
The Brumby Government acknowledges this is a cost blow-out in the Budget Information Paper No 1 - Public Sector Asset Investment Program 2009-10 stating: "... TEI has been revised to $380 million. This was based on project development work prior to Business Case approval". (p.7)
"The Brumby Government has overlooked the importance of recycling as a valuable water source and has failed to deliver on this upgrade, leaving Victorians without sufficient recycled water to use now, for industry, agriculture or for the watering of public gardens and sporting grounds," Ms Asher said.
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