Desalination plant to switch off
IT COST the state $2billion to build, but on the weekend the NSW Desalination Plant will be switched off indefinitely.
Finance Minister Greg Pearce said on Tuesday that dams around the state were so full, keeping the desalination plant open would be an unnecessary expense.
Speaking on ABC morning radio, Mr Pearce said the plant currently cost the state about $16million a month and the shut-down would save water customers about $50million per year.
He didn't rule out re-opening the plant should the state slip back into drought conditions in the future.
On Tuesday night a spokeswoman for Mr Pearce said there would be no further comment until the closure on the weekend.
The closure will coincide with the introduction of the Federal Government's Carbon Tax.
