[Greens-Media] Mary River Dam inquiry a microcosm of water debate

[Ludlam, Scott (Sen R. Siewert)]

Sunday 15th April 2007
Senator Rachel Siewert


Mary River Dam inquiry a microcosm of water debate

"The Senate inquiry into the Traveston Crossing dam on Mary River is an
important test case which represents a microcosm of the wider national
debate about securing our water resources in a drying climate," said
Senator Rachel Siewert today.

"It brings together all of the major issues - from rare and endangered
species like the Mary River Cod and the Australian Lungfish, to
Brisbane's water supply crisis, strong local agricultural industries and
economies that depend on the river, the rapid growth of the population
of South East Queensland, and the rights of local communities to be
consulted." 

"With Malcolm Turnbull's announcement this week of plans to pipe water
across the border from Clarence River in northern NSW to southern
Queensland even more attention will be focused on the appropriateness of
expensive and energy-intensive mega-projects as a means of addressing
our water security needs," said Senator Siewert.

"The Greens believe that we need to be focusing on demand management
options, such as improved water use efficiency, and increased recycling
and rainwater capture as well as options like indirect potable reuse,"
she said.

The inquiry, which will be in Gympie on Tuesday and Brisbane on
Wednesday, will consider "all reasonable options" for additional water
supplies in South East Queensland and examine their social,
environmental and economic impacts.

The inquiry has attracted considerable public interest, with 187
submissions received from a range of interested people and organisations
ranging from local farmers to university professors, from engineers to
environmentalists, and from local governments to church groups.

Senator Siewert is the deputy chair of the Senate Rural and Regional
Affairs Committee.



For more information or comment call Chris Twomey on 0407 725 025 Email
senator.siewert at aph.gov.au  http://www.rachelsiewert.org.au