Public forum to debate State's water choices

Tuesday, 1 July 2008

A public forum to discuss South Australia's choices to secure our water supplies will be hosted by the University of Adelaide tomorrow night, featuring a panel of four national experts.

Key themes under discussion at the Water Wednesday event will include an overview of the State Government's water supply options, progress on the desalination project, and potential water efficiencies in food production and consumption.

Mr Ian Kowalick, the Independent Commissioner for the Murray-Darling Basin will lead the debate, outlining the best policy mix for managing the State's water resources, and the urgent need to reduce our reliance on catchments where rainfall is declining.

He will be followed by Mr Rod Naylor, Executive Director of Veolia Water Australia, and Mr John Ringham, Chief Operating Officer for SA Water, both of whom will discuss the pros and cons of desalination as an alternative water source independent of rainfall, and the development of a desalination plant for South Australia.

The forum will round off with a presentation on "invisible water" from Professor Randy Stringer, Head of the University's Discipline of Agri-Food and Wine Business. Professor Stringer will disclose the large amount of hidden water used in food and discuss how Australia can save water by making the food production and transportation process more water-efficient.

The public is invited to the free event, to be held in the Florey Lecture Theatre in Medical School North, Frome Road, from 5.30pm-6.45pm on Wednesday 2 July.

Register by email to kate.reinfeld@adelaide.edu.au

For more information, visit www.water.adelaide.edu.au/events/

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