Long term solution for Fitzroy Basin water

The Newman Government today announced it would develop a long-term solution to protect water quality in the Fitzroy Basin catchment.

The Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney told the Fitzroy Water Quality Advisory Group in Rockhampton that a permanent strategy for water management was needed rather than the ad-hoc decision-making of the past.

Mr Seeney said the Government would investigate the feasibility of establishing a salinity trading system for the Fitzroy Basin.

“We need a solution that is firmly based on science, establishing for the first time a set of principles about how excess water from the coal mines is released into the river system,” he said.

“We need to ensure that different industries can co-exist and we can sustain economic development, while water quality is maintained at acceptable levels for the basin’s communities.

“Water quality needs to be as good or better than it is today.

“Never again do we want to see a repeat of the Ensham episode of 2008.

“With Central Queensland coal mines still coping with excess water from the recent flood years we need a well-designed, considered management system that enables mines to deal with water issues on an on-going basis.”

Mr Seeney said the Hunter Valley in New South Wales, which has a salinity trading scheme, may provide a model for the future of the Fitzroy Basin.

“The Hunter Valley is like the Fitzroy Basin – it drains the largest coastal catchment in NSW and contains 20 big coal mines, three power stations and a wide range of agricultural activities, “ Mr Seeney said.

“It’s salinity trading system has cut salt levels in the Hunter River by 20 per cent over the last 10 years.

“The Murray-Darling Basin salinity register, was one of the of the first pollutant trading schemes involving salinity in the world. There are also water quality trading mechanisms of differing types at numerous locations around the world.

“Salinity trading is based on the release of water during flow periods where the river has the capacity to absorb a salt load without impacting on the environment. 

“Stored mine water could then be discharged when there are good natural flows of low salt, fresh water in the river.

“River monitoring determines when discharges are possible and tradeable salinity credits are used to determine the total amount of salt that can be discharged.

“It is timely to investigate whether a similar market-driven framework that allows water discharge volumes and salt credits to be traded, would work for the Fitzroy Basin,” he said.

Mr Seeney said the Government would initiate a pilot release of water from four mines in the upper Isaac River during the coming wet season.

“The pilot will be strictly monitored, including an enhanced monitoring program.  The findings will improve our understanding of the river system and provide the basis to develop a permanent solution for management of mine water,” he said.

The mines participating in the pilot have been selected for a number of reasons, including their location in the catchment.

Other mines applying for amendments to their release conditions will be considered on a case by case basis by the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection. 

The cumulative impact of these releases is considered in any decision.

Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection Andrew Powell said the pilot mine water release will be strictly regulated to ensure there are no  impacts on water quality and ecosystem health.

“We have acknowledged that the thousands of litres of water left sitting in pits by the previous government is an issue we need to address in a measured and controlled way,” he said.

“We must act in order to mitigate any ongoing risk to the community, the waterway and the environment.

“The Newman government is committed to transparency in its activities and will provide the community with up-to-date, factual and accessible information throughout the pilot.

“The Fitzroy River website will provide notifications about when the mine water releases are occurring as part of the pilot. People can also look up real-time monitoring results on this site and read the latest alerts and updates.

“The floods in 2011 have had a significant impact on the resource industry, but I stress that maintaining water quality is always the highest priority.

“Environmental groups have been calling on us to develop a long-term strategy to improve water quality  and that is exactly what we are doing.”

“I have consistently said policy decisions will be based on science, not politics, and this will deliver the scientific data to do that.”

The Fitzroy River website can be accessed at www.fitzroyriver.qld.gov.au.

[ENDS] 8 November 2012   

Media Contacts: John Wiseman  - 0409 791 281

                           Kate Haddan – 0418 373 516

Background

• The four mines involved in the trial are BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance’s (BMA) -  Goonyella Riverside, Peak Downs, Saraji and Norwich Park coal mines.
• BMA is Australia’s largest coal miner and exporter, and the world’s largest supplier to the seaborne coking coal market.
• Control of the four mines by a single parent organisation will enable effective monitoring and coordination of water releases and collection of data from the pilot period