[Greens-Media] MARK PARNELL MLC: Release Critical Beach Report Now

[Parnell]

Media Release
12th February 2008

Release Critical Beach Report Now

Greens MLC Mark Parnell has called for the immediate release of a CSIRO
Report into the health of Adelaide's beaches that has sat on Environment
Minister Gail Gago's desk since November last year.

The Adelaide Coastal Waters Study, six years in the making, and costing
over $3 million, calls for a radical reduction in the amount of
nutrients and other materials in wastewater and stormwater dumped off
Adelaide's beaches.  Greens MLC Mark Parnell obtained a copy of the
Study under Freedom of Information after becoming concerned at delays in
the report's release.

"The CSIRO's findings are deeply disturbing.  Our beaches are suffering,
the sea is getting cloudier and we're losing hectares of seagrass and
important fish breeding grounds every year.  We simply can no longer use
the beaches off Adelaide as the dumping ground for our waste water.
It's not quite 'Bondi cigars', but the damage to our beaches from
dumping Bolivar water is still startling," Mr Parnell said.

Greens MLC Mark Parnell has called on the Rann Government to use the
Study to radically update its Waterproofing Adelaide Strategy.

 "The implications of this long awaited report are nothing short of
revolutionary.  Change the cost of dumping waste water and you change
everything - suddenly options like recycled water and stormwater re-use
become much cheaper, and desalination more expensive.  

"The sooner the Government starts to implement the recommendations of
this Report the better.  For example, the Cheltenham Racecourse
redevelopment should be put on hold until its potential to clean and
store polluted water run-off has been fully investigated.  The Report
makes clear options such as these hold the key to preserving our
precious beaches.

"In the midst of a water crisis, this Report must not be filed away
somewhere and forgotten.  The Government must take the findings
seriously.  Over 5,000 hectares of seagrass has already gone.  We have
got to start the fightback.  Action number one: stop dumping waste water
from Bolivar and instead treat it as a resource," he said.


	
For further comment contact Craig Wilkins on 0434 007 893

	
 


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