The NSW EDO on behalf of the Alliance had requested a six-week extension to the consultation period on the proposed amendments to the Snowy Water Licence . Last week the NSW Commissioner for Water David Harris granted the EDO's request. The new closing date for public comment on the Licence amendments for all stakeholders is now 29th January 2010.

The Snowy River is dying! The NSW Government turned down the opportunity to save the Snowy River and save the taxpayer millions of dollars. If they amend the Snowy Water Licence (SWL) before 18 December 2009 ( now 29 January 2010 ) to allow environmental flows from the Moonbah River, they can save the Snowy River and save taxpayers millions. Instead they will sign the death knell for the Snowy and force us to pay compensation to Snowy Hydro.

We want the NSW Parliament to:

• Amend the Snowy Water Licence now to allow environmental flows from the Moonbah River into the Snowy River.
• Incorporate the legal advice of the NSW Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) into the Snowy legislation and Snowy Water Licence to make minimum environmental flows mandatory
• Incorporate the scientific advice of the Snowy Scientific Committee (SSC) to return environmental flows to the Snowy River via the Moonbah River.
• Ensure permanent spills over the Guthega Dam wall and Island Bend Dam wall into the Upper Snowy River and permanently decommission all aqueducts on the Snowy River tributaries.

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

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