Back to the important stuff - Recreation

We know that there has been an upgrade that it has in the past and may or may not currently overflow. We know that what is usually discharged from the upgraded plant is clear liquid, which is monitored under national and international guidelines. ...........

So what about the people who the water quality is monitored for. ..... and i have to say here we are referring to people who use the water near the Outfall at Potter Point rather than people who are swimming back on the Cronulla beaches.

before we get on to surfers.....lets talk tot people who get right under the water and up close and close and personal with the outfall!.... Scuba Divers:

Michael Mcfayden runs a well respected scuba website which several scuba diving shops referred me to look at. on his website he suggests that like the fishes, divers are returning to the dive sites around the Potter Point Outfall. Despite the sewage stigma, the upgrade has made it a good place to dive and see natural beauty!!!!:

"As far as I know, very few, if any, commercial dive boats dive the area south of the entrance to the Bay down to the northern side of Bate Bay (this is the bay in front of Cronulla and Wanda Beaches). The reason for this is that the Cronulla Sewage Treatment works used to dump basically raw sewage into the ocean at Potter Point, the northern-most part of Bate Bay. However, this sewerage works now treats the sewage to tertiary standard and the "stuff" dumped into the ocean is now of a very good quality. In addition, there are a number of other outlets in this section of coastline. These include outlets from the oil refinery at Kurnell. These outlets are located at Tabbagai Gap, about half way between the two bays. As far as I know, these outlets now dump a better quality waste into the ocean.

As such, during the 1980s and 1990s this section of coast was not a place that many divers wanted to visit. However, now that the waste being dumped from these outlets is much cleaner, the dive sites along here really beg to be dived. "

So Michael obviously sees the huge improvement in the water quality. He is loving the tertiary treated effluent...loving it!

Having spoken with a representative from Pro-Dive Cronulla, i found out that Michael's opinion was not a one off. (95442200) Cronulla Street

: "we get really good clear water around there, in fact it is a great dive. I haven't been diving here long enough to remember the water before the sewage works was upgraded, but i know that now it is a popular dive. W are really worried however about the impact of the desalination plant....If they start sucking water in from the same area i think it will really damage the life down there"

It is clear that the water for recreation is dramatically better....but isn't it weird thinking that if the water is so good and it is being pumped out into the ocean there......and the desalination plant will be on the same peninsular....sucking water back in to spend lots of money and energy taking the salt out....what the bloody hell are we doing!!!! I think i will have to do some more research about the desal plant as well....It all seems so waste full.