Mr MIKE BAIRD (Manly) [6.27 p.m.]: I reassure the Manly community that its opposition to Sydney Water's proposal to build a sewerage tank on the northern beaches has been heard. The community rightly was outraged when Sydney Water changed its plans to build a $70 million underground storage tunnel to capture stormwater overflows and to build instead a storage tank the size of 18 Olympic swimming pools on community land. We all want Manly and Curl Curl lagoons to be clean, but it should not be at the expense of our parks or school playgrounds. The plan is an important initiative because with about a dozen storm events each year more sewerage pours into Curl Curl and Manly lagoons—and that is unacceptable in this day and age. This problem should be a priority. Sydney Water started with a plan, but changed it primarily due to cost.

Sydney Water acknowledged the need to clean up the lagoons, and certainly the allocation of $70 million towards the project is appreciated. However, when I learned that the plan no longer provided for a tunnel because of cost implications, I called the Chief Executive Officer of Sydney Water to request a meeting to express objections to the three sites identified for a storage tank. I acknowledge that Dr Kerry Schott, Managing Director of Sydney Water, and Paul Freeman, General Manager Asset Management, listened to community concerns and have started to address them. Really that is all we can ask. Kerry in particular acknowledged that Sydney Water had not got the project right and after listening to the community tried to respond in the best possible way. During the discussions, Sydney Water said that the industrial area at Brookvale had been canvassed, but that it had been passed over. At that meeting I requested Sydney Water to seriously reconsider Brookvale as an option because it is likely to attract the majority of support in the community. As events have unfolded, that certainly appears to be the case. I am grateful for the action taken by Sydney Water.

I understand that during the next week or so Sydney Water will rule out two of the three proposed sites for the sewerage tank, and that it is seriously considering the industrial area at Brookvale as an alternative site. It appears that Sydney Water will rule out the Manly Selective High School site. That was a crazy proposition to begin with because it was within the grounds of a high school and would have destroyed the last of the incredible remnant bushland behind the site. Sydney Water has also ruled out Harbord Park, which is situated among a whole range of residential-type developments. Both of those sites will be depicted as not viable, or at least I understand that will be the outcome. I look forward to written confirmation of the discussion.

I have always said in relation to John Fisher Park that it would not even be considered by the community unless the sewerage tank could be completely buried and an understanding could be reached in relation to environmental impact and management of the site. Taking into account some engineering advice I have received as well as community concern, the proximity of a water table will make it impossible for the tank to be completely buried. If the tank has to be located above ground, the community will rule it out as a site forthwith, and rightly so. For similar aesthetic and environmental reasons, John Fisher Park should be immediately ruled out as well. Only one site remains for consideration. I ask for priority to be given to the Brookvale Industrial Park.

It is my firm understanding that Brookvale Industrial Park is being seriously considered as the location of the tank, and I endorse that proposal. I acknowledge that the community as a whole has responded and that Sydney Water has acknowledged that consultation to date has not been properly carried out. To remedy that defective process, Sydney Water has attempted to consult as many groups as possible, and all groups will be consulted going forward. I await feedback relating to the consultation, particularly in relation to the Brookvale Industrial Park site.

I take this opportunity to pay tribute to several residents who have been very actively involved in this issue: Nick, Jane and Madeleine Lush from North Curl Curl, Brent and Jayne Persico from the North Curl Curl Action Group, Deborah Cox and Rod Abbot from the John Fisher Park Community Group, and Craig Brighton, who represented the Freshwater group. All those people are passionate community members and represent literally hundreds of others. In just two weeks, almost 3,000 people have visited a Facebook page that has been set up to oppose the sewerage tank being located on the northern beaches sites that were proposed. The community is determined to ensure that public land is not lost to accommodate a sewerage tank.

I applaud the work of the community. I give a commitment to all of the groups involved that we will not stop the fight until the sewerage tank is located in the Brookvale Industrial Park or, indeed, the initial proposal is restored to the agenda.