SYDNEY WATER SUPPLY.

Waikato Times, Volume 98, Issue 15310, 10 August 1923, Page 2

SYDNEY WATER SUPPLY.

"WORSE THAN EVER."

NEXT SUMMER'S THREAT.

LORD MAYOR'S WARNING.

A serious .crisis in the Sydney water supply next "summer is inevitable if dry weather conditions continue till then. The Lord Mayor, who is vice-pre-sident of the Water Board, said that, faced as the city was with conditions worse than ever, it behoved the Government to complete by might and main the Cordeaux dam as an additional storage. The Lord Mayor (Aid. Gilpin) was pressed to give his views upon the statement by Mr Ball (Minister for Works) at the Potts Hill reservoir ceremony, that he would seek legislative sanction during the coming State parliamentary session for the carrying out of the Lupton dam on the Nepean. Though he does not wish to appear as a carping critic, the Lord Mayor said he considered that the Minister, knowing how serious the water position would be if reduced rainfall continued throughout the summer, should suspend 'if necessary,' the work: on Avon dam'to concentrate every effort.upon the construction of Cordeaux dam.

He added:—' „ „", ; , tw - "It seems to be of vital Interest that Cordeaux dam should be got ready for impounding water as soon as possible. The seriousness of the position is not appreciated by the citizens of Sydney. There appears to be every possibility of another dry summer, • and with 7000 million gallons less water than at this time last year, the shortage will be more pronounced than last summer, and the position generally more critical than ever." ,_ For some time the Lord Mayor Aas been urging greater efforts by the Public Works Department to complete Cordeaux dam, as after heavy storms much water has run to waste over trie present low wall. The construction of this dam, with a similar storage capacitv to Cataract (21,000 million gallons') was estimated to take four vears when it- was authorised by Parliament in 1916. The work has been retarded by a shortage of • cement. Several months ago .the Minister stated that the dam would be ready to hold up water in twelve months. ■MI members of the board appear to agree that whatever water supply works have been speeded up lately havel been due entirely to press publicity, with the resultant attitude of the Minister on visiting works of "For God's sake hurry up with this job."