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Newsletters SNOWY RIVER ALLIANCE THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE SNOWY RIVER ALLIANCE WILL BE HELD ON This will be an important Annual Meeting as four of the committee members from Victoria, Gilbert(Gil.) Richardson; Vice Chairman, along with the Treasurer Max White and Hon. Asst Secretary Glenice White are retiring from the committee. Gil and Max were in attendence at the inaugural Snowy River Alliance meeting held in Bombala in the mid nineties. This meeting brought the Dalgety And District Community and the people of the Victorian side of the Snowy River together in an 'alliance' for the first time. The continuing difficulties besetting the future of Snowy Hydro(national news 24.7.2006) and by implication the future complications which may occur to the environmental flows delivery to the Snowy River makes the relevance of the Snowy River Alliance as a lobby group acting in the interests of the partial restoration of the Snowy River below Jindabyne Dam an important instrument in the process of the river refurbishment. The Snowy River Alliance rendered a submission to the NSW Legislative Council into the Continuing Public Ownership of Snowy Hydro Limited and was invited to speak to the submission at the hearing in Cooma on Wednesday 5th. of July 2006. We are of the opinion that Snowy Hydro is in breach of the Snowy Water Licence as it has cut off the water from the Mowamba Weir into the Moonba River before the new infrastructure works on the Jindabyne Dam have been completed. Our objection to this action was very much a part of our submission to the Legislative Council. Also the fact that the Scientific Committee and the Ministerial Corporation which were meant to be set up as part of the Snowy Hydro Corporatisation legislation have never been instigated. Some weeks ago our Vice Chairman Gilbert. Richardson accompanied Craig Ingram to a meeting with the Victorian Premier Steve Bracks to discuss these problems and the privatisation issues that were current at the time. We are still awaiting results of this meeting from the Government on this discussion as is the Dalgety and District Community Community Association regarding the same issues, from the NSW Government. We have been very sad that our Chairperson for the last few years, Jo.Garland has had to retire from her position on the committee. Jo was a tireless worker for the well being of the Snowy River and it's people below the Jindabyne Dam and we miss her greatly. We send Jo and her family every good wish for the success of their new enterprise. We have offered to support Craig Ingram financially in his seeking legal advice from the NSW Environmental Defenders Office regarding the breach of Snowy Hydro in not complying with section six of the Snowy Water Licence when they closed off On a brighter note the members of 'Waters for Rivers' the statutory committee headed by Chairman Richard Bull, set up by the NSW and Victorian governments to find the water savings for the Snowy River and River Murray, visited Orbost some three months ago. We were very pleased to see them and thank them for making the effort to come and see for themselves the difficulties being experienced by the farming community by the farming by the lack of flows on the other end of the river. Vice chairman Gil arranged for them to have a boat trip around the estuary and along the Brodribb River. The Brodribb is a very low end tributary of the Snowy and enters just before the Snowy flows into the wetlands. The committee seemed to be confidant their water savings were on target fo the delivery of the 21% flows required for the Snowy river by the year 20012. On January 30th 2006, Snowy Hydro Ltd, turned the Mowamba River Aqueduct back on, and redirected the water into Jindabyne Dam. According to them, they were complying with the water licence. According to the local community, they were going against the intention of the Heads of Agreement to restore the Snowy River to sustainable health. Both the Victorian and New South Wales state governments and the Federal Government have completely gone against the hopes of most Australians to rehabilitate the Snowy River. In the short term, they have beheaded the river again by cutting off the natural flow of the Moonbah River into the Snowy River. In the long term with their plan to privatize Snowy Hydro Ltd, the consequences are impossible to predict. The Snowy Hydro Scheme was set up in the National interest- to provide electricity IN A CRISIS and to provide irrigation to the west. More recently with rising awareness of environmental issues the scheme also had to improve the ecological health of the Snowy River. The scheme was NOT set up to make money – it was to serve the Australian Community. The given reason for privatization, is to give the corporation money to expand. Snowy Hydro Ltd did not have the monopoly on instant power, but with the invention of gas fired turbines, which can be turned on in an instant, SHL’s monopoly was lost. Now they want the finance to buy, and build, gas fired turbines around the country so that they can regain that monopoly on instant power, to make more profit. But WHO will profit? And WHO will lose? In the past, when there was a severe drought SHL had the obligation to provide the farmers with extra water above their allocation. Would a private company forego profit to do this? The implications of privatization are far reaching. It is good that the Senate Inquiry will investigate the issues. Unfortunately, it is a case of shutting the gate after the horse has bolted, as we understand that the corporation will be sold before the inquiry’s recommendations are published. What is the use? A constitutional challenge or a legal battle of some description is required to slow down the process of sale. As we have learnt, from the Mowamba aqueduct fiasco, governments cannot be relied upon. The National interest i.e the control of water is the issue and the well being of the people and the environment, are being threatened. Surely there is action to be taken to protect the people and the land from the short-sighted politicians who can only see as far as the next election. The governments made some good decisions at the turn of the century, to look after our much loved water ways. They showed a good understanding of the issues and a care for the communities, and balancing the interests of all. It was a win-win outcome which lead people to optimism about the future. With the beheading of the Snowy River again by recommissioning the Mowamba River Aqueduct and with the threat of privatization and the profit motivation which that implies, what has happened to that hope for the future that Aussies shared when the Aqueduct was decommissioned and the Snowy River began its journey back to Health? Don’t Sell the Snowy Campaign As you know, the Iemma Government ha announced that it will privatize Snowy Hydro. We believe that this iconic infrastructure project must stay in public hands. The Reasons for not selling are numerous:
If you would like more information please call Sylvia Hale on 02 92303030 or Acacia Rose on 0402298821. The SRA fully endorses this campaign as public pressure is our greatest tool in this endeavour to stop the privatisation of Snowy Hydro Ltd. There will also be rally’s held in Jindabyne on 28th May and in Cooma on 4th June, starting at Midday at Centennial Park and finishing at Snowy Hydro. Constitutional Challenge: Mowamba River Aqueduct: Compensation Payment to Snowy Hydro for the final 7% Environmental Flow: Subscriptions: Also a special thanks to the DDCA who have really taken on the battle while some of us (especially me) have been diverted by the home front. Jo Garland
Welcome to the latest edition of the Snowy River Alliance Newsletter. Sometimes it feels like there's not much going on but then it's newsletter time and we realise that on all fronts there has been some action and change. On a personal note, two members of our hard working committee, Max and Zara have been very ill. Not that it has stopped either of them between bouts! We send our heartfelt wishes for speedy recovery to both our precious battlers. Back to business......... Water for Rivers (the Joint Govt. Enterprise renamed) Whilst this body was very slow to get started 'Water for Rivers" is really moving in a positive direction with strength and determination. The Snowy River Alliance did not meet them at the end of last year as hoped and we were feeling left out of the loop and rather pessimistic. However, having spoken to Neville Smith the C E 0 - optimism has replaced pessimism and hope of actually achieving the original goals as set out in the Heads of Agreement seems very likely. The target for 28/6/05 (being 3 years since corporatisation) was to achieve 57 gigalitres (G/L) of water savings. This has been reached with 19 G/L going to the Murray River and 38 G/L to the Snowy River . The next target, set for 28/6/08 is to achieve 212 G/L by 2008. The Water for Rivers team is being very innovative in their plans and methods using technological advances to our benefit and they believe they will reach their target on time. Considering they were able to reach their first target in 18 months, the Snowy River Alliance is very hopeful. We will invite them to send a representative to Snowy River Day in Dalgety on 28th August this year. We have every confidence in Richard Bull (the Chair) and his team to achieve a favourable outcome for the Snowy River . Jindabyne Dam Wall - Structural Changes Snowy Hydro Limited (SHL) has been unable to complete the necessary structural changes to Jindabyne dam wall in time to deliver environmental flows by 28th June this year. They had to build an uptake tower, to take the water from the top level of the dam, and a tunnel under the dam wall, to deliver the water into the Snowy River . It is a complicated project and they have hit a lot of loose rock, which has had to be stabilised. They expect the tunnel to be ready by December, this year. Mowamba River Aqueduct - The campaign continues Luckily SHL can continue to deliver the environmental flows via the Mowamba River , as they have been doing since corporatisation, in 2002. The 38 G/L that has been saved by Water for Rivers is the exact amount the Mowamba River can provide naturally (as long as it rains an average amount per annum). The Snowy River Alliance is in fact glad the SHL is behind schedule with the restructuring of the dam wall. We do not want the recommissioning of the Mowamba River Aqueduct. We do not want water taken out of the Mowamba River and put into the Jindabyne Dam so that it can go through the tunnel and into the Snowy River . When more water savings are made, that exceed the 38 GL, that water will need to go through the tunnel and over the dam wall. But for now the Mowamba River does the best job possible in delivering a natural flow of water into the Snowy River . If there is a shortfall due to lack of rain, then the difference can be made up once the tunnel is completed in December. That way we are assured of receiving the full 38 GL of water that has been saved for the Snowy River . Since the decommissioning of the aqueduct in mid 2002, the Snowy River has received all the natural flow of the Mowamba instead of it being redirected to the Jindabyne Dam. Because of the drought, we have never received the full 38 G/L but the natural flow, with daily variability and its connection to a natural catchment has had a positive impact. New banks are beginning to form, the channel is beginning to deepen and the potential for recolonisation of macro-invertebrate life and fish is there. (Just add more water) The Snowy River Alliance has continued its campaign to keep the Mowamba River flowing naturally into the Snowy River . Glenice White and Jo Garland went to Sydney and met with representatives of the Premier's Dept, Nathan Rees and the Environment Dept, Anna York. It was a very positive meeting, although we are still waiting for confirmation that SHL will receive compensation and the Snowy River will receive the unimpeded natural flow of the Mowamba River forever. Sole Gas Plant - adjacent to Corringle Creek (tributary of the Snowy River ) Santos, Australia's third largest oil and gas company, informed the local community on the 8th June 2005 that it would insist on its legal right to expand the gas processing facilities on the banks of the Snowy River Estuary. In a recent press release, Mr John Ellis Flint, Managing Director of Santos, stated his company's intention to develop the site into the gas processing hub for Eastern Bass Strait . The Santos vision for the Snowy River is an enormous contradiction to the program of environmental improvement pledged by state and federal governments, especially as the Sole Well has been found to contain hydrogen sulphide. There are alternative sites available that would allow Santos to grow its project without risking the health of the river. It would be unconscionable for those who care for the Snowy River to remain silent now that future development intentions have been made clear. Please contact your local State and Federal representatives and voice your concerns about the building of a petro- chemical plant as an extension to the already present gas plant situated in the estuary (swamp) of the Snowy River on the banks of Corringle Creek. The Corringle Creek and the surrounding wet lands are amongst the most important fish and eel nurseries on the eastern seaboard of Australia . The Snowy River Alliance believes that the placing of a petro-chemical plant is environmentally undesirable in this locality and that the Victorian and Commonwealth governments should be reassessing the situation with views to revoking the permits to build on this particular site. " Snowy River Story" by Claire Miller - launch at Dalgety Excellent reading and a very good source of information for anyone wanting to know how the small communities on the Snowy River won such an important environmental issue against the odds. We had a book launch in Dalgety. It was well attended by about 100 people - including the Victorian Minister Candy Broad, member for East Gippsland Craig Ingram and the Federal Minister Nick Minchin - all key players in the restructuring of the Snowy Hydro Agreements. It was great to get everyone together for a yarn. At Orbost - the launch of the "Snowy River Story" in Orbost (Victoria) and the Exhibition in words and pictures of the fight to restore the environmental flow back to the SNowy River . The lovely new Orbost Exhibition Centre was the perfect venue for the Orbost launch of Claire Miller's book 'The Snowy River Story'. The afternoon was attended by many people both local and from other places and the book has generated much interest in "how the water was won" for the Snowy River . Claire, Craig Ingram Member for Gippsland East, and Gilbert Richardson were the guest speakers and the Women of the Snowy River along with Sue Legge,(daughter of Gilbert Richardson) from Bete Bolong(on the Snowy River ) sang songs of the Snowy River journey to the assembly of people. Ruth Hanson, the curator of the Orbost Exhibition Centre, and her band of happy helpers had assembled a magnificent exhibition explaining in words and pictures, the natural history of the Snowy River with the tortuous story of the efforts of the people of Orbost in Victoria , and Dalgety in NSW to have a river restored to ecological sustainability. In other words the fight to restore a greater flow of water into the Snowy against strong political opposition. Ruth garnered the help of the children from local primary schools too, and their stories pertaining to the River along with their paintings added depth and fun to the exhibition. The photographic story of the worrying potential for damage to the estuary from the present gas plant and possible construction of a petro-chemical plant on the Corringle Creek was also an important part of the "Snowy River Story" exhibition. The Snowy River Alliance would like to congratulate Claire Miller on the publishing of her very readable and very well researched book. We know how much effort she put into making it as accurate and credible as she possibly could, and we know of the energy Claire needed to drive all those thousands of kilometres to meet up with the people mentioned throughout the story. The research into the natural history of the river and its indigenous peoples was also a big challenge for her and we must thank her husband Chris Agar and their family for making the sacrifices needed to help her write and finish the book. "The Snowy River Story" is a fine historical document and text book. Our congratulations to Ruth Hanson also for putting such a fine "Snowy River Story" exhibition together. She has a wonderful imagination and obvious expertise to be able to display such an informative collection of data past and present into an interesting story. Well done Ruth. Snowy River Festival - Dalgety - Past and Future In December 2004, we had a 3 day festival here in Dalgety, organised by the Chamber of Commerce. Lots of horse events including the stockman's challenge with whip cracking, river crossings and camp pitching. The Man from Snowy River rides again. It was very exciting and inspiring. This year a similar event will be held on November ll th -13 th , in conjunction with the Food Fair. It will be a great weekend - no doubt about it. Come along and join in the fun. Snowy River Festival - held in Orbost during the last week-end in October 2004 The Festival was organised by the Rotary Club of Orbost and extended over a week. The main activity days were Friday, Saturday and Sunday. There were many and varied displays including - A very colourful street parade, lead by a float depicting "More water for the Snowy", also a Highland Pipe Band, plus more displays featuring past, and present history of the Snowy River. Primary school children featured in the parade and participated in most events. At other locations many items of interest included - Uniting Church Flower show, Art display, Quilting exhibition, Canoeing down the Snowy, Huge Market Day at the Slab Hut, Vintage car display, Muffin baking competition at the Orbost Angling Club House, and more. A great weekend was enjoyed by the locals and many visitors from other places. We will let you know if one will be held in 2005. Snowy River Day - Sunday 28th August 2005 at Dalgety As the structural changes to the Jindabyne Dam Wall aren't yet complete, we won't have to go to the dam wall and protest the re-commissioning of the Mowamba River aqueduct!!!! The environmental flows will continue to flow down the Moonbah and into the Snowy River at least until December. Hopefully by then the Premiers of NSW and Victoria will have announced that the Mowamba River aqueduct will never be reinstalled and the Mowamba River will continue to flow at full strength and breathe life into the Snowy River . We will invite the Premiers to Dalgety for the day as we invite all of you folk. Good food, music, information update on the progress of the River's rehabilitation. We will have some original footage from the 1940's of the Snowy River being canoed down in flood times from the source to the mouth. The last of Gordon Ballard's mates, John Ekins has been found in Cooma with the old film on video. We are most optimistic about Snowy River Day 2005 - a celebration of 3 years since corporatisation and with a bit more water under the bridge. The future of the river looks sparkling. Please come along and join us in the celebration. Membership of the Snowy River Alliance Thanks to everyone for your continued support. The A.G.M will be held this year in Orbost during October 2005. PLEASE come along and lend us a hand. It's your continuing INTEREST and MEMBERSHIP that allows the Alliance to stay in existence. There is still a long way to go before we get that 28% flow back into the river. Membership Fees for 2005 to 2006
WE HOPE TO SEE YOU SOMEWHERE ON THE SNOWY RIVER SOON JO GARLAND EDITOR Hello and welcome to our latest edition of the Snowy River Alliance Newsletter. We have just had our A.G.M. and we would like to let you know the make up of the committee:
Also continuing on the committee are :- f rom Orbost :- Lynette Greenwood, Chris Allen, Heather Richardson, and from Dalgety:- Harry Moss, Vicki Wallace and new members to the committee John Gallard, June Latham, and Roger Salis. A great team. As chairperson, I would like to say I feel very lucky to work with people who have such conviction and the heart to continue for so long. Especially Max and Glenice White and Gil and Heather Richardson who have been working on improving the Snowy River for thirty years or so. Their commitment is inspiring. I feel privileged to have the opportunity to work with them. It is also very good to have new members to learn the story and add their ideas and areas of knowledge. We are all looking forward to the year ahead. This year should be one of steady progress. The ‘Joint Government Enterprise’( JGE ) now called ‘Waters for Rivers’, plans to have saved 66GLs by mid 2005 – 44GLs for the Snowy River and 22GLs for the River Murray. This water will be saved by pipeline installation, channel improvements and metering of supply. Mr Ian Penrose from the Victorian Snowy River Project Team has been a great advocate for this work. He has retired now; we thank him for his work and we wish him well. The directors of ‘Waters for Rivers’ will be meeting at Dalgety in November. We are looking forward to hearing their future plans for water savings etc. The changes taking place to the Jindabyne Dam wall are on target .to be completed by mid 2005. These structural changes will allow water through a new spillway to provide the environmental flows, including an annual flushing flow, into the Snowy River . There won’t be enough water saved for a flushing flow this year but the base flow can be increased. The third annual Snowy River Day would be a good time to see the opening of the spillway and more water being added to the river. The governments seem likely to postpone repayment of the water ‘borrowings’ which we have received since 2002 so that the rate of flow can steadily increase rather than staying on 38GLs for years. At Dalgety, with the decommissioning of the Mowamba Aquaduct, the effect of the added 38GLs per year has been positive. The average flow has increased from 50MLs a day to 100MLs a day. The flow rate is faster and slightly cooler. New banks are slowly forming which will hold the River in its course and deepen the channel. This is the beginning of a new River. The improvement is thanks to the free flowing Mowamba River that provides daily as well as seasonal variation in the flow rate of the Snowy. The Snowy River needs a natural headwater. We have, and will continue to campaign strongly for the Mowamba Weir to be permanently decommissioned. The Snowy River Alliance commissioned a report by Simon O’Connor on the economic evaluation of costs and benefits of the diversion of water from the Mowamba River for hydro electricity generation. The report has given us information that the economic benefits to Snowy Hydro Limited of recommissioning the aquaduct is marginal, whereas the significance of the free flowing Mowamba River to the recovery of the Snowy River is high. The economic gains in terms of fly fishing and tourism is greater, and at less cost and risk, with a free flowing Mowamba River . As you can see, much of our work this year has been focussed on the NSW, Federal, and Victorian Governments to have a final decision made in favour of the continued decommissioning of the aquaduct and the eventual removal of the Mowamba Weir wall. We remain optimistic that the Mowamba will continue to run free for the overall good of both rivers. In June this year Craig Ingram MP for Gippsland East, Frances Kelly from the Total Environment Centre Sydney, Helen Foard from the World Wildlife Fund and Jo Garland of the Snowy River Alliance, went to Parliament House in Sydney for a series of meetings about the permanent decommissioning of the Mowamba River Aquaduct and the removal of the weir wall. We met with the NSW Minister for Environment Mr Bob Debus, representatives of the Department of the Premier, and the Department of Primary Industry. Permanently decommissioning the weir or not to do so will be the decision of the NSW Government. A six year cloud seeding trial began this winter in the Snowy Mountains by Snowy Hydro Limited. The Snowy River Alliance did not support this project mainly because a decrease in rainfall outside of the designated area and over the rest of the Monaro catchment of the Snowy River could not be ruled out. Snowy Hydro Limited agreed to monitor six locations downwind of the target area and if there is a significant decrease in rainfall on the Monaro the project could be reviewed. The Victorian Government announced provisional approval for a chemical gas treatment plant in the Snowy River Estuary/flood plain at Corringle Creek, a tributary of the Snowy River . The Snowy River Alliance along with others, strongly protested against its placement in such a high risk flood zone and on the banks of the extremely ecologically sensitive fish nursery which is the Corringle Creek. Latest news is ( SRM Sept 8 th ) “ the Patricia Balleen Sole Gas Extension which was subject to ministerial assessment has been postponed”. The Victorian government has implemented a schools program which integrates the Snowy River Rehabilitation Project with the science and environment curriculum in the Snowy River Schools Cluster. Susy Legge, a primary school teacher from Orbost gave an excellent outline of the program to appreciative visitors to the Snowy River Day in Dalgety a few weeks ago. We are very much looking forward to the coming year when the future of the Mowamba Weir will be decided, the structural changes to the Jindabyne Dam wall will have been completed and greater environmental flows will possibly be released down the River as a result of water savings from NSW and Victoria. Snowy River Day in Dalgety 2005 should be quite exciting. In Victoria , the single logs attached to the banks of the river appear to be popular with the river’s bird life. However, we are awaiting further information from the engineering team at Monash University Melbourne regarding the assessments of the feasability or not, of introducing large wooden debris to the rehabilitation stretch of the Snowy River above Jarrahmond. The Snowy River Alliance continues to doubt the benefits of this project as opposed to the risks and uncertainties it will present to the farming community and the flood mitigating structures such as flood gates etc, below the proposed trial site in the event of high floods. We have been honoured by the interest and visit of Chinese journalists from a Chinese Geographic magazine searching out the story of the River. We look forward to seeing the photos they took of the area and Mick Miners and his family on horseback when the story is published. The Snowy River Alliance is supporting the Snowy River Festivals in Orbost during the week of the 25 th to the 31 st of October and in Dalgety on the 3 rd to the 5 th of December 2004 . Our newsletters are sent out as often as possible to all our members and we thank you sincerely for your continued support of our organisation and for your interest in the improvement to the health of the Snowy River . Signed:- Jo Garland, Chairperson Contents:
It has been 18 Months since the Snowy River received its first environmental flow release from the Mowamba River . This increased the flow from 3% (of the average flow) to 6% with 22% to look forward to over the next 10 years or so. The River has improved slightly with the extra flow, mostly due to the daily and seasonal variation of water flow rather than the increased amount of water released. The Mowamba River is now the natural headwater for the Snowy River . It is an exciting beginning, but there is a long way to go. Many of our supporters have ceased to be paid up members of the SRA, possibly thinking that the River has been saved and restoration a matter of course. Unluckily for the River, this is not the case. As you will read in this issue of the Newsletter, there are many serious issues to be resolved. The SRA still needs to continue its campaign to keep the governments on track and to protect the catchment from environmentally risky developments. If you still care about the Snowy River and its rehabilitation please resubscribe. There is a membership form on the back of this Newsletter. We will do our best to communicate with you through newsletters, public meetings, media releases and the internet. Your subscriptions pay for the postage, phone bills, public meetings and reports etc. The SRA Committee is highly committed to ensuring the future health of the Snowy River and we do need YOU. Knowing we have the support of the people along the River is essential to keeping us strong. Your renewal renews us. Jo Garland Corringle Creek Chemical Gas Plant – Press Release 2004 The Snowy River Alliance is mystified and decidedly uneasy that the Bracks Labor Government is now recommending a chemical gas treatment plant be placed in the flood plain/estuary of the Corringle Creek area of the Snowy River and the Ewing Marsh. The NSW and Victorian Governments are to spend $300million dollars over ten years finding fresh water to restore the ecology of this river. We find the Victorian government threatening to ruin the enterprise by recommending a potentially hazardous chemical gas treatment plant be constructed in the river’s seriously flood prone wetlands. Also the dangers to human life and to the nationally famous fish nurseries in the wider precincts of the Snowy River estuary when this area is cut off from vehicular access, surrounded by and possibly inundated by flood waters, makes the contemplation of this project sheer folly.
The article written by OMV Australia and printed in the Snowy River Mail last week, (Wednesday February 18 th) did not inform the public of the conditions which will apply to the Planning Minister’s recommendations before the actual Planning Permits are approved for the construction of the extensions of the chemical gas plant to begin. The company did not indicate to the readers that the Planning Permits were subject to approvals yet to be given by the East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority and the EPA. These approvals are dependent, in large part, on the company providing specific quantified and qualified information on how it proposes to manage safely, the access into and out of the plant for people and hazardous chemicals in times of flood and high flood. Also other environmental difficulties of its operation when confronted with high flood situations. For example:- Quote from ‘Conditions applying to Planning Permit No 03/00397/DX page three:- “As a minimum, it is considered that the Flood Risk Assessment should include assessment of :- The need to maintain access to the plant for the:-
On the basis of the (above) Flood Level Analysis Report and Flood Risk Assessment a Flood Response Plan for the existing and proposed facilities shall be undertaken, showing how the applicants propose to manage identified risks.” Etc. etc. The Snowy River Alliance maintains, that as the proposed chemical gas treatment plant is a hazardous industry, the physical threats to the safety of its operations and therefore the safety of the surrounding wetlands posed by the Snowy River flooding into the Corringle Creek area of the Snowy River Estuary and Ewing Marsh, especially if the latter is also in flood, makes the sighting of the proposed extension to the present gas plant unsuitable. Lack of access to and possible inundation of the sight of the proposed new gas treatment plant increases the risks already inherent in the project, no matter how minimal the proponents would have us believe they are, to being unacceptable. These risks include:-1. Explosion from the treatment of the noxious gas Hydrogen Sulphide coming from the ‘Sole’ gas field. 2. The present site is porous and this increases the risk of leakage, spillage or other accidents pertaining to the storage and use of chemicals, such as caustic components and sulphur, leaching into waterways in times of flood or even heavy rain. The gas Hydrogen Sulphide, which will need to be taken from the gas coming from the Sole development is a particularly nasty beast whose bad habits include those of being :-
The proponents cannot guarantee an accident won’t happen; either chemical or gas. Eg. Longford or most recently Moomba in South Australia . The Snowy River estuary/floodplain, Corringle Creek or Ewing Marsh is obviously not the place to construct a chemical gas treatment plant. The SRA has sent this letter out as a press release and slightly modified to both NSW and Victorian politicians. We are highly concerned that the Snowy River ’s well-being could be put at such a risk by the very politicians who helped set up the River’s rehabilitation.
On the 25/2/04 the NSW Government gave the go-ahead to a 5 year trial of cloud seeding by Snowy Hydro Ltd. The SRA does not agree with the trial as we are concerned that it may have a negative effect on the rainfall on land downwind. This land is Snowy River catchment below the Jindabyne Dam wall and already has very low rainfall. However Snowy Hydro has dressed the cloud seeding up to be the answer to the problem of global warming and the saving of the Murray . We have asked for the rainfall to be monitored in the downwind areas and during the negotiating stage Snowy Hydro Ltd agreed. However we are still awaiting confirmation from the NSW Government. The Joint Government Enterprise has been established on 12 December 2003 . Mr Richard Bull, Peter McCamish and Neil O’Keefe are the independent directors and their office is at Albury NSW on the Murray River . Snowy River Alliance has welcomed the long awaited set-up and requested regular consultation. We have also asked them to buy 38gl p.a of water to cover the early release of the Mowamba River . As the 38gl p.a. increase has been given to the Snowy River before any savings have been made out west, the first 38gl saved goes back to Snowy Hydro Ltd. As payback. If it takes 3 years to save 38gl we already owe 38x3 gl. Victoria estimates it will save 25gl in 3 years time which will redress the debt but not repay it. NSW has not gone beyond the planning stage. This purchase will allow the Snowy River to get more environmental flows as soon as water savings are made by the JGE instead of the dreadful “pay-back” scheme which is the current model and which will prevent any increase in environmental flows for years to come. Mowamba River Aqueduct At present the Mowamba River is flowing into the Snowy River over a weir wall. Snowy Hydro Ltd wants to recommission the aqueduct and take half the Mowamba (the base flow) back into the dam at Jindabyne and send it into the Snowy River over the dam wall. It plans to put a mini Hydro turbine on the dam wall and then sell the electricity. Snowy Hydro Ltd believes it is written in the water licence that it can do this. SRA wants the weir wall removed and the whole of the Mowamba to flow freely into the Snowy River , 2 Km below the dam wall. The Mowamba River would then be a natural headwater for the Snowy giving the river a natural daily and seasonal variation and fish a macro invertebrate passage. SRA believes the water licence on this issue is ambiguous and unclear. The NSW government fears it may have to pay Snowy Hydro Ltd for lost electricity production for any changes in the licence, so does not want to make a decision re the Mowamba till mid 2005. In its proposal to change the Jindabyne Dam wall Snowy Hydro Ltd has decided not to construct the mini turbines at this stage but has included the infrastructure so that it can add it on later. Snowy Hydro Ltd’s projected profits from this project would be marginal but they do want compensation if they have to drop the proposal altogether. On the strength of all this SRA has written to the NSW government asking for a speedy decision. Failing a satisfactory reply we are prepared to fight for the Mowamba River . Snowy River Day, Saturday 28 th August, is the day that we commemorate the original decommissioning of the Aqueduct in 2002, and it is fitting then to accelerate the campaign to keep the headwater flowing forever. Please come along and show your support. This is an issue we can win with your help. We will put a notice in the newspapers “Snowy River Mail”and “Cooma Express”closer to the date - just in case the NSW government agrees to give us the Mowamba totally beforehand!! |
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