Letter to the Editor: Further transparent consultation needed regarding Nanarup desal, writes Nick Holthouse

The recent article on “low-impact drilling” at Nanarup may give the impression that this project is simply progressing as expected.

However, for many in the community the concern is not about drilling itself, but about how we arrived at this point without a clear plan on how the risks identified by the community will be appropriately managed.It is important to be clear: many residents are not opposed to desalination.

We understand the need for long-term water security.

The issue is whether Nanarup is the right location, and whether the process used to select it has been sufficiently thorough, addresses the risk profile, transparent, and informed by site-specific data.Over a relatively short period, the community was presented with two locations, no visibility around how other potential sites were assessed or excluded.

Many local residents were unaware Nanarup was even under investigation until well into that process.

That does not reflect early or meaningful engagement.With Water Corporation’s identification of their preferred site and investigations under way, the role of ongoing community input and consultation becomes especially important.

It would be helpful to better understand how feedback at this stage can influence outcomes, and how earlier engagement informed the narrowing of sites.Water Corporation management have openly stated that the community concern is a form of “NIMBYism”.

This bullying tactic risks overlooking the substance of what is being raised by the community.

The concerns being expressed relate to process, environmental responsibility, and ensuring that decisions of this scale are made with appropriate evidence and transparency.The City of Albany has already emphasised the principle of “do no harm”.

That principle should apply not only to the final design, but to the decisions that lead us there.As this project progresses, it is critical that these questions are openly addressed, the community is empowered to raise concerns and Water Corporation is held accountable to address the concerns and mitigate risks.

Nick Holthouse

Nanarup

Letters to the editor must contain the author’s full name, address and daytime contact number. Letters may be edited for space, clarity or legal reasons. Email news@albanyadvertiser.com or post to PO Box 5168 Albany, WA, 6332.