I thought they had done an analysis of the higher salt outflow and concluded it was sufficiently diluted. Not sure if (and if not, why not) disperse the outflow at numerous outlets.
Wind power has been proposed to offset the energy requirements of the desal plants. Carnegie Corporation is working on a wave energy harnessing devices (anchored to sea floor) to generate electricity or directly pump sea water at 1000 lb per square inch through reverse osmosis plants. IF the Carnegie CETO mechanisms are as durable as they say, (ie don't require expensive underwater servicing)and don't interfere with underwater current, sand flows (??) these could be environmentally OK for desalination.
A mate going to China visited a canal that was built by order of a past Emperor.... for transport. The canal was built a LONG time ago, is still used today.
Sometimes, looking through the public service jobs advertised, I wonder what would happen if we got rid of the many silly positions (especially the upper echelon dead wood ones) and re-mobilised people for great infrastructure projects.
Add water and the OZ landscape could support many more people/immigrants.... some argue that increased population could solve a lot of OZ's financial problems.
