[Greens-Media] Hanson-Young: Salt water flooding option demands more public consultation

[Clark, Gemma (Sen S. Hanson-Young)]

Friday 12 December 2008

Salt water flooding option demands more public consultation

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young says ten days is not long enough for
public consultation on the prospect of flooding South Australia's Lower
Lakes with salt water.

Environment Minister Peter Garrett provided a ten-day period for public
consultation which concludes today, and is set to decide whether or not
he will approve salt water flooding by December 31 this year. 

"Ten days for public consultation on such critical environmental, social
and economic impacts is a joke, said Senator Hanson-Young.

Senator Hanson-Young said Minister Garrett must commit to conducting a
risk assessment on the potential impacts of salt water flooding.

"What effect will salt water flooding have on the native flora and fauna
of the Lower Lakes?

"What impact will salt water flooding have on the communities who rely
upon the Lower Lakes?

"What is the likelihood of contamination of the groundwater on the
Fleurieu Peninsula?"

Senator Hanson-Young said the State and Federal Governments had given up
on the Lower Lakes by contemplating salt water flooding before other
options.

"Environment Minister Garrett and Water Security Minister Maywald have
run up the white flag on the Lower Lakes," she said.

"Rather than setting the wheels in motion to react to the worst-case
scenario, other options should be actively pursued without further
delay.

"Thirty to sixty gigalitres of fresh water are what the Lower Lakes so
desperately need, and this is what the Governments must be acquiring and
providing.

"Our internationally recognised, Ramsar-listed wetlands, our Storm Boy
country, deserves nothing less than our best efforts to give them the
drink they need."

Media contact: Gemma Clark on 0427 604 760