[Greens-Media] Paradise Dam court case sounds warning on Mary River dam threat

[Norton, Tim (Sen R. Siewert)]

Paradise Dam court case sounds warning on Mary River dam threat
Tuesday 7th October 2008

The Australian Greens today welcomed the legal case launched by the Wide
Bay Burnett Conservation Council against Burnett Water over the Paradise
Dam in Queensland.

"The Paradise Dam on Burnett River is being held up as the model for the
planned dam at Traveston Crossing on the Mary River," said Senator
Rachel Siewert today.

"This court case confirms the evidence to our Senate Inquiry late last
year that heard Paradise Dam was preventing Australian Lungfish from
accessing their spawning grounds, blocking access to one of the only two
breeding sites of this rare and endangered species."

Senator Siewert says the Traveston Dam project needs to be halted while
the court case proceeds.

"The Traveston Dam threatens the only remaining nursery for the
world-famous Lungfish. The outcome of this court case is likely to rule
out construction of this dam under Federal environmental laws," she
said.

"I'm sure our Environment Minister, Peter Garrett will be keeping a
close eye on the outcome."

"The Paradise Dam is a white elephant that should never have been built.
It has been a costly and environmentally disastrous project which has
failed to deliver and continues to remain mostly empty," said Senator
Siewert.

"The Traveston Dam is right out of the same mould - it is a shallow and
leaky proposal which will do little to address South East Queensland's
water needs. At the same time it knocks out thousands of hectares of
prime food producing land on Brisbane's doorstep and threatens a host of
rare and endangered species." 

"To avoid another white elephant like the Paradise Dam, the Traveston
Dam project should be put on hold until the findings of this court case
have been heard," she concluded.

For more information or media enquiries please call Tim Norton on 0418
401 180
senator.siewert at aph.gov.au  |  www.rachelsiewert.org.au  |
www.greensmps.org.au