[Greens-Media] MARK PARNELL MLC: Greens Bill to scrap Lake Bonney special law

[Parnell]

Media release
Thursday 27th November, 2008


Greens Bill to scrap Lake Bonney special law


Greens MLC Mark Parnell has introduced a Private Members Bill into State
Parliament to cancel the 50-year special deal that allows Lake Bonney in
the state's South East to be used as a pulp mill waste water dumping
ground until 2014.

"This is an archaic Act of Parliament that is basically a licence to
pollute.  It is totally at odds with the values of 2008 and should be
scrapped," said Greens MLC Parnell.  

"There's no point in waiting for another 6 years for this Act to expire
- we need to kick this off our statute books now.  We shouldn't be
allowing any company to pollute our precious waterways.  It's time for
the Parliament of South Australia to make a stand," he said.   

Lake Bonney in the state's South East is South Australia's largest
freshwater lake, but is closed for fishing, swimming and boating after
decades of dumping of contaminated industrial waste, agricultural runoff
and treated sewage.  The poor state of the Lake was highlighted in a
recent report on Channel Nine's A Current Affair.

The Greens Bill will amend the Environment Protection Act to ensure SA's
environment laws over-ride two Indenture Acts from 1958 and 1964 that
waive pulp mill giant Kimberley Clark's liability for any wastewater
discharge into Lake Bonney.  

"Because of these antiquated laws Kimberley Clark is under absolutely no
legal obligation to reduce their pollution levels. That just doesn't
make sense in a time when every freshwater lake is absolutely vital as a
refuge for wildlife, as well as an important recreational and economic
resource for the wider community. 

"Enough's enough.  Another six years is too long to wait.  

"We urgently need to cancel this special licence to pollute and get on
with a major clean-up of the Lake," he said.    

	
For further comment contact Craig Wilkins on 0434 007 893

	
 


---------------------------------------------------------------------
"The information in this e-mail may be confidential and/or legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, access to it is unauthorised and any disclosure, copying, distribution or action taken or omitted to be taken in reliance on it is prohibited and may be unlawful."