December 3, 2009
The Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett has not ruled out taking action to prevent the State Government from diverting another 10 billion litres of water from the Thomson River to Melbourne.
The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has been urging Mr Garrett to intervene in the issue to protect the Ramsar listed wetlands of the Gippsland Lakes and any endangered fish species, including the grayling.
Mr Garrett has written to Mr Chester and indicated that his Department was “actively investigating the matter in relation to the requirements of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999”.
Mr Chester said he was heartened by the response and would step up his efforts to have the 10 billion litre diversion of water overturned.
“Gippslanders are furious with the State Government for announcing this decision to take more water from an already drought-affected region without any consultation or discussion of the environmental impacts,” Mr Chester said.
“More than 1700 people responded to my community newsletter and urged me to send a message to the State and Federal Governments that they must stop this diversion of water and take more action to protect the environmental health of the Gippsland Lakes catchment.
“The fight is not over and I will continue to raise the issue at every opportunity and keep the pressure on the State Government to reverse this ridiculous decision.
“Much of our region is experiencing a drought and the rivers are already stressed – the Labor Government is placing the gardens of Melbourne ahead of the health of Gippsland’s waterways.
“There have been several reports which have indicated the Gippsland Lakes are at an ecological tipping point and the further reduction in freshwater flows, particularly at the western end of the catchment, could prove disastrous.”
Mr Chester has spoken on the issue in Federal Parliament and repeatedly urged Mr Garrett to intervene. In his response to Mr Chester’s letters, the Federal Environment Minster acknowledged that his Department was seeking further clarification from the Victorian Government.
“This includes greater detail on the proposed diversion and any measures that will be undertaken to mitigate any impacts on the Australian grayling, as well as information on the timing of any diversion and any possible impacts to the Gippsland Lakes Ramsar site,” Mr Garrett wrote.
“It is not possible to comment further, until such time as we receive a response from Victoria confirming the proposed actions, and providing additional supporting information on possible impacts and mitigating measures that might be implemented.”
Mr Chester said it was an appalling situation when the Federal Minister’s office did not appear to have been fully briefed by the State Government.
“The Federal Minister has a clear role under the EPBC Act to consider any actions that are of national environmental significance and it is the height of arrogance for a Melbourne Labor Minister to take this action without proper consultation with the community and the Federal Minister,” Mr Chester said.