SENATE REPORT VINDICATES STATE ON DAM PROCESS
Published Thursday, 16 August, 2007 at 12:41 PM
Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Infrastructure
The Honourable Anna Bligh
August 16, 2007
The Queensland Government had been vindicated by the recommendations of the Senate Inquiry into the Traveston Dam and Water Supplies for South East Queensland, Deputy Premier and Infrastructure Minister Anna Bligh said today.
She said that contrary to extraordinary claims this morning by National Senator Barnaby Joyce and media reports, the Senate committee did not make any adverse recommendations in relation to the proposed dam’s hydrology, engineering, environmental impact or the Government’s community consultation.
“After six months of deliberations, almost 250 submissions and four days of hearings the Senate committee made only two recommendations _ that the Environment Minister consider the environment when he makes a decision and that the State Government continues its community engagement and business assistance program.
“It reaches no conclusion on the dam and offers no alternatives to the Traveston Crossing proposal.
“The Senate committee’s recommendations in effect call on us to keep doing what we are already doing.
“They recognised the imperative to provide water security to the people of south east Queensland. They also cautioned that the Government needs to proceed carefully in achieving this objective. And that is exactly what we are doing.
“While we will be studying the report in more detail, the Queensland Government clearly accepts the need to continue to support communities and businesses affected by the proposed dams.”
Ms Bligh said the report appeared to have considered all the evidence and had delivered a reasonable and balanced outcome. She was especially pleased that the seriousness of the SEQ water situation was not lost on the committee.
She said some Mary Valley residents must be disappointed by the cruel hoax perpetrated by the National Party that the inquiry could somehow halt the dam.
“The expectations raised within the local community by National Party Senators Joyce and Boswell must have left a bitter taste in some people’s mouths,” Ms Bligh said.
“Raising false hope is callous thing to do. They have been used by the National Party just to increase their Senate vote in Queensland.
“Ron Boswell in particular grandstands against dams, against purified recycled water, against any solution to drought-proofing south-east Queensland because he’s up for re-election this year.
“When it comes time to offering a solution to the worst drought in the south-east’s history, he’s got nothing.”
Ms Bligh said the inquiry report did nothing to alter the State Government’s strong conviction that Traveston Crossing was the best site for a dam in south-east Queensland.
She said dissenting report prepared by National Senator Barnaby Joyce, and Liberals Ian Macdonald Russell Trood showed the Coalition was “all over the place” on water policy.
“It’s little more than the late night thoughts of Barnaby Joyce. It presents no facts or any compelling evidence. It says nothing new – it’s all the usual claptrap that has been consistently refuted by the scientific evidence.”
More information: Deputy Premier’s Office 3224 6900
Recommendations
Recommendation 1
7.13 The committee recommends that the Commonwealth Minister for Environment and Water Resources, when exercising authority under the EPBC Act, considers the evidence received on the potential environmental impact of the Traveston Dam on the Mary River and the species of the river. The committee also recommends that the Minister reviews the results of the audit on the Paradise Dam approval conditions to mitigate any potential effect on threatened species.
Recommendation 2
7.14 The committee recommends that the Queensland Government continues to:
• Instigate strategies that will inform, engage and consult with members of the affected communities;
• Ensure that businesses affected by the proposed dams are adequately compensated and offered approprate assistance; and
• Where possible, facilitate the timely release of copies of reports and information to members of the community to achieve a transparent and open process.
The Queensland Government had been vindicated by the recommendations of the Senate Inquiry into the Traveston Dam and Water Supplies for South East Queensland, Deputy Premier and Infrastructure Minister Anna Bligh said today.
She said that contrary to extraordinary claims this morning by National Senator Barnaby Joyce and media reports, the Senate committee did not make any adverse recommendations in relation to the proposed dam’s hydrology, engineering, environmental impact or the Government’s community consultation.
“After six months of deliberations, almost 250 submissions and four days of hearings the Senate committee made only two recommendations _ that the Environment Minister consider the environment when he makes a decision and that the State Government continues its community engagement and business assistance program.
“It reaches no conclusion on the dam and offers no alternatives to the Traveston Crossing proposal.
“The Senate committee’s recommendations in effect call on us to keep doing what we are already doing.
“They recognised the imperative to provide water security to the people of south east Queensland. They also cautioned that the Government needs to proceed carefully in achieving this objective. And that is exactly what we are doing.
“While we will be studying the report in more detail, the Queensland Government clearly accepts the need to continue to support communities and businesses affected by the proposed dams.”
Ms Bligh said the report appeared to have considered all the evidence and had delivered a reasonable and balanced outcome. She was especially pleased that the seriousness of the SEQ water situation was not lost on the committee.
She said some Mary Valley residents must be disappointed by the cruel hoax perpetrated by the National Party that the inquiry could somehow halt the dam.
“The expectations raised within the local community by National Party Senators Joyce and Boswell must have left a bitter taste in some people’s mouths,” Ms Bligh said.
“Raising false hope is callous thing to do. They have been used by the National Party just to increase their Senate vote in Queensland.
“Ron Boswell in particular grandstands against dams, against purified recycled water, against any solution to drought-proofing south-east Queensland because he’s up for re-election this year.
“When it comes time to offering a solution to the worst drought in the south-east’s history, he’s got nothing.”
Ms Bligh said the inquiry report did nothing to alter the State Government’s strong conviction that Traveston Crossing was the best site for a dam in south-east Queensland.
She said dissenting report prepared by National Senator Barnaby Joyce, and Liberals Ian Macdonald Russell Trood showed the Coalition was “all over the place” on water policy.
“It’s little more than the late night thoughts of Barnaby Joyce. It presents no facts or any compelling evidence. It says nothing new – it’s all the usual claptrap that has been consistently refuted by the scientific evidence.”
More information: Deputy Premier’s Office 3224 6900
Recommendations
Recommendation 1
7.13 The committee recommends that the Commonwealth Minister for Environment and Water Resources, when exercising authority under the EPBC Act, considers the evidence received on the potential environmental impact of the Traveston Dam on the Mary River and the species of the river. The committee also recommends that the Minister reviews the results of the audit on the Paradise Dam approval conditions to mitigate any potential effect on threatened species.
Recommendation 2
7.14 The committee recommends that the Queensland Government continues to:
• Instigate strategies that will inform, engage and consult with members of the affected communities;
• Ensure that businesses affected by the proposed dams are adequately compensated and offered approprate assistance; and
• Where possible, facilitate the timely release of copies of reports and information to members of the community to achieve a transparent and open process.