"It is our mission to obtain a true environmental flow of at least 28% for the Snowy River."

Contact details: Executive Committee Details

SNOWY RIVER ALLIANCE TAKES ON NSW GOVERNMENT OVER SNOWY WATER LICENCE

Snowy River Alliance (SRA) filed proceedings today [23 July 2010] in the Supreme Court of New South Wales against the NSW Water Administration Ministerial Corporation (who is the Minister for Water) over the Snowy Water Licence review.

SRA are requesting that the Supreme Court declare the NSW government's first five-year review of the Snowy Water Licence invalid as it did not comply with the Snowy Hydro Corporatisation Act and consequently the Licence variations given effect on 1st May are also invalid and should be set aside.


Read the full media release

Federal Election 2010

Election News

On Wednesday 11th August at Dalgety NSW, the Federal Minister for Water Penny Wong announced a Labor Government election commitment to payout the Mowamba Borrowings Account which has been effectively capping Snowy River Flows at 4% average annual flow below Jindabyne Dam.

http://www.abc.net.au/rural/regions/content/201008/2980747.htm?site=gippsland http://www.crikey.com.au/2010/08/12/too-little-too-late-for-snowy-in-its-death-throes/ http://www.smh.com.au/federal-election/wong-pledges-water-deal-to-save-snowy-river-20100811-11zqn.html

Questions to Candidates

Snowy River Alliance has prepared an election poster and questions to the candidates for Snowy River electorates of Eden-Monaro and Gippsland. The Questions have been sent out to the main candidates. The poster has also been distributed as an advertisement in local papers.

Election 2010 NSW Poster Election 2010 Victoria Gippsland Poster Questions to Candidates

The Australian Greens candidate for Gippsland Michael Bond have responded to the SRA Questionnaire.

The Greens have given their full support for all seven of our key recommendations and in government would work toward the restoration of 28% of annual flows to the Snowy River below Jindabyne Dam.

The Australian Labor Party Candidate for Gippsland Darren McCubbin has responded to the SRA Questionaire.

Federal Labor has secured the agreement of NSW and Victoria to repay the ‘Mowamba Borrow’ account.
The Agreement means all Snowy water owing to the ‘Mowamba Borrowing Account’ will be repaid to enable 56 billion litres in extra flows to flow down the Snowy River over the next 2 years. These flows will be in addition to any other environmental water available to the Snowy River recovered through the Water for Rivers initiative.
Under this Agreement; · The Commonwealth Government will provide financial compensation to Snowy Hydro for its impact on power generation; and · The NSW and Victorian Governments will provide the necessary water.
Any decision to change management arrangements for the Mowamba Aqueduct would require a unanimous decision by the NSW, Victorian and Commonwealth governments.
Federal Labor has delivered on its election commitment to contribute an additional $50 million to help reach the target of returning 21 per cent of natural flows to the Snowy by 2012.

Federal Labor supports the need for transparency and public accountability in the process of recovering water for the Snowy River by the Water for Rivers joint venture, and in administering this water to deliver environmental benefits in the Snowy

Any decision to change management arrangements for the River Murray Increased Flows environmental allocation would require a unanimous decision by the NSW, Victorian and Commonwealth governments.

The Gillard Labor Government expects Snowy Hydro to comply with its Licence conditions.

The National Party candidate for Gippsland Darren Chester has responded to the SRA Questionaire.

Following discussions with my State colleagues, I can advise you that the Coalition supports a judicial inquiry into the Labor Government’s water projects in northern Victoria where some of the water savings for the Snowy will be derived from. There is a significant amount of concern about where the money has been spent and what savings can actually be accounted for in the system, independent of the Government’s claims.
Before I could make commitments to the range of issues presented, it is important that we know what has happened with the money that has already been spent by the Labor Party and the veracity of the claimed water savings have been tested.
On a more general note, I do support the return of environmental flows to the Snowy and have been actively involved in a range of campaigns to support practical environmental works across Gippsland.

Media Contacts:

John Gallard Chair, Snowy River Alliance Ph: 02 6456 2159 Email: quartzcrystal@bigpond.com

Louise Crisp Vice-chair, Snowy River Alliance Ph: 0418 516 373 Email: lcrisp@bigpond.com