Federal government steps in
At the end of January 2009 the Federal Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts declared the Tillegra Dam project a “controlled action”. It means there will be greater scrutiny of Hunter Water Corporation’s environmental assessment of the project. It also means that the Federal Environment Minister, Peter Garrett has the final say on the project and can put conditions on any approval. The reason for the federal intervention is the effect the project could have on the Ramsar listed Hunter Estuary Wetlands.
The Ramsar convention is an international treaty, of which Australia is a signatory, for the protection of wetlands of international significance.
Tracy Norman, author of the No Tillegra Dam Group’s submission to the department, welcomes the decision, saying it vindicates the group’s argument that the proposed dam would be environmentally disastrous. It also puts to bed fears conjured up by last week’s news that the State Government has declared the proposed dam “critical infrastructure”.
She says “anyone who thinks that this debate is over should think again. This is not the fait accompli that Hunter Water would have people believe. The group congratulates the Minister, Peter Garrett and his Department for the decision”.
The chair of the No Tillegra Dam Group, Sally Corbett, expressed her gratitude to members and supporters who made submissions to the department regarding this matter. She says “this shows the importance of people taking action and not giving up”.
She says “the decision from Peter Garrett’s department shows that there is a law outside Hunter Water Corporation and the State Government and that both will now be held accountable”.
Ms Corbett urges people to continue the fight against the proposed dam and not to fall victim to efforts to portray the project as unstoppable. Send Peter Garrett a message now.