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Restoring the Snowy

By Joel Tozer - posted Tuesday, 29 December 2009


Released in September 2008, the report states that:

… flows down the Snowy River from the [Jindabyne] dam have not been adequate for habitat and channel maintenance, have not provided normal stream conditions for stream fauna, and have not delivered any discernable lateral connectivity.

Rachel Siewert, Greens Spokesperson for Water urged the Senate in late November to delay the review by six months:

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The long-term survival of the Snowy River depends on an effective Snowy Water Licence that delivers the best environmental outcomes. These decisions must be made during the current Review to avoid significant environmental and economic costs.

The “Final Report” on the Snowy River was published without consultation with the Victorian government and Commonwealth. Craig Ingram, Independent member for East Gippsland said of the review:

A number of minor licence changes have been proposed, but none relevant with increased flows for the Snowy River, which under the NSW legislation was the only real issue the first major review of the licence was required to investigate.

Snowy Hydro Ltd is advised by the NSW Water Administration Ministerial Corporation on the amount of water flows to be released. Brett Miners said that despite current criticism from local campaigners, the current environmental flows are not a waste of water. “The [current] environmental flows … are doing some good and are laying the groundwork for some really good things to occur once the full environmental flows are available,” Miners said.

When asked to comment on the companies’ commitment to meet future water targets, David Hogan, manager of public relations for Snowy Hydro Ltd refused comment. Mr Hogan said that the company has refused media interviews on the Snowy River for two years (forgetting the recent interview on ABC’s AM Radio). The unwillingness of Snowy Hydro Ltd to engage in public debate not only leaves future water targets open-ended, but also puts the trust of a local community at risk.

Part of the great attraction for restoring the Snowy River, beyond its popular link with the television film The Man from Snowy River, is to see the spirit of a once wild waterway be brought back to life.

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With the return of more than a quarter of its annual natural water flow beyond 2012, scientists would be able to use the existing data of environmental flows, which includes two years of “pre-intervention” data to approach river management right across the globe.

The social implications of an unhealthy river are far reaching. Beyond millions of taxpayer’s dollars being wasted, the water supply of local towns such as Dalgety in southeast NSW is at stake. Meeting the environmental flow targets for the Snowy would see the return of a dynamic river system and an opportunity for the NSW and Victorian government to take a leading role in river management.

“We want to see the minimum scientifically recommended 28 per cent environmental flows as the ultimate goal for restoring the Snowy to health,” said John Gallard.

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About the Author

Joel Tozer is a Sydney-based freelance journalist.

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