Water for all...

Our lovely state is getting drier. Greenhouse effect or not, our south/southwest is seemingly getting less and less rainfall. In fact one area, Ravensthorpe, has resorted to trucking water in from other areas to ensure enough water to keep their livestock alive, as well as for household use.

Years ago my gf's uncle, Ernie Bridge, had the bright idea to run a pipeline from the abundant fresh water supply in the northwest to Perth. This would relieve some of the strain placed on local water catchments. Unfortunately his plan was ridiculed, as would be expected I guess, because of the costs (around $3 billion) and the enormity of the project. Therefore it has never come to fruition.

More recently, there has been another idea brought forward by the Liberal leader Colin Barnett. This idea is to use a canal system instead of a pipeline to traverse the 2000+km to Perth. Projected costs for this is $2 billion, but I'm pretty sure that would blow out. Sure there is alot of planning to be done, but in the end our state needs water and this, on the surface at least, appears to be a good option.

I applaud this forward thinking, as the millions of litres of fresh water wasted by flowing out to sea could help so many water restricted communities between Perth and the northwest. I know I'm neglecting the people that live in the northwest, as some of them rely on the rivers flooding to service their crops etc. Hopefully most people will be able to be accomodated.

Kalgoorlie relies on a pipeline for its water supply, and without the imagination and determination of C.Y O'Connor to build the original pipeline from Mundaring to Kalgoorlie 100 years ago, there definitely wouldn't be a city here now!