double capacity for desalination plant, page-10

"WA is in Election mode for State Election on 9th March."

On the east coast, desalination plants are definitely not vote winners. The previous government in Queensland were roundly criticised for building one on the Gold Coast at the end of the last drought. Southeast Qld was in danger of running out of freshwater. The desalt plant was looked upon as a white elephant that should never have been built, this after the drought broke and the dams refilled.

Right now sections of Brisbane have been told that they have only about 6 hours of freshwater remaining due to silting of the treatment works from the flood. During the 2011 flood the desal plant was producing freshwater when there was a similar problem.

If floods and droughts become more frequent and severe as forecast, the ability to produce freshwater will be critical. If that is the case ,desalination plants may be looked upon as vital infrastructure as opposed to white elephants.