Article from: AAP
September 10, 2007

THE South Australian Opposition said the State Government must look at wave power to help boost the state’s electricity and water supplies.

Opposition Leader Martin Hamilton-Smith said that using the ocean’s natural movement to produce both clean power and desalinated water deserved the Government’s full attention.

Western Australian power technology company Carnegie Corporation recently briefed opposition MPs on a $400 million project proposed for the state’s south-east.

The company said the plant could provide up to 50 megawatts of power and 50 gigalitres of water a year.

“The technology is very exciting,” Mr Hamilton-Smith said.

“I call on Premier Mike Rann to examine this project and commit one way or the other.

“We don’t want him dithering on this like he has with other water proposals.”

Federal Liberal MP for Barker, Patrick Secker, said he expected the Carnegie Corporation to make its formal project submission to the Federal Government next week.

“The Federal Government is committed to solving South Australia’s water security problem,” Mr Secker said.

“If this project is viable, we’ll get behind it.

“I’ll be lobbying very hard for an urgent assessment.”