STMRCG 20 Oct 09-Qld Premier's cover-up exposed in Canberra

[tanzi]

MEDIA RELEASE 20 OCTOBER 2009

Queensland Premier’s cover-up exposed in Canberra

As National Water Week gets underway, the campaign to save the Mary River and Great Sandy Strait will expose the Premier’s cover-up of the facts regarding the proposed Traveston Crossing dam to key politicians in Parliament House in Canberra this week.

Glenda Pickersgill, President of the Save the Mary River Coordinating Group explains, “In addition to meeting politicians, I’ll be explaining the key flaws in the proposal to a conference organized by the peak body of environmental practitioners, the Environmental Institute of Australian and New Zealand.”

“This is a great opportunity for environmental assessors from all over the country, including some who might be involved in the decision, to hear the true facts behind this proposal,” explained Ms Pickersgill.

Ms Pickersgill, a highly experienced environmental scientist, will today present a paper titled “Environmental Assessment of the Proposed Traveston Crossing dam” which was co-authored by hydrologist and systems ecologist, Mr Steve Burgess.

Save the Mary River campaigners have presented the scientific arguments against the proposed dam and for alternatives at numerous scientific & professional forums over the last three and half years.

“Our record of making presentations at conferences and having articles accepted into peer reviewed publications demonstrates that our science stacks up and is robust in the light of scrutiny by independent scientists and engineers,” said Mr Burgess.

“We’ll be emphasizing this record when we meet with politicians in Canberra this week.

“We want them to know that the arguments for the dam, particularly the 1200 conditions proposed by the proponent would not stand up to such independent scrutiny. These arguments are based on flawed data and reflect a giant experiment rather than a reasoned assessment of the risks to biodiversity and to Brisbane’s water security,” concluded Mr Burgess.

The conference is titled “Policy to Practice – Achieving Better Environmental Outcomes.” The Save the Mary Coordinating Group is also an exhibitor at the conference and will have copies of the beautiful “Love, Mary” book available for conference participants.

"We urge Peter Garrett and Kevin Rudd not to be wooed by the voluminous reports but to live up to their responsibilities in environmental protection." said Ms Pickersgill

"We urge them to counsel the Queensland government to take the path of any one of a number of alternatives that would actually provide a cheaper and, in uncertain times of climate change, a more secure water supply."