Media Release
Shadow
Environment Minister Jackie Trad says the Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney today
confirmed his plan to release dirty water from four Central Queensland mines
into Rockhampton’s drinking water supply.
“After days
of questioning by the people of Rockhampton and the Labor Opposition Mr Seeney
today admitted he plans a ‘pilot’ release of dirty mine water from four mines in
the upper Isaac River this summer, regardless of the level of rainfall,” Ms Trad
said.
“This pilot
water release from four mines opens the floodgates for the 36 other mines in
Queensland wanting to release dirty mine water from the floods – this is only
the beginning.
“The reckless
Deputy Premier will release this dirty mine water without any guarantees about
what impacts the release will have on the Fitzroy Basin water catchment, the
local environment, the Great Barrier Reef, biodiversity and the health of our
agricultural economy,” she said.
Ms Trad said
Mr Seeney introduced legislation last Parliament sitting to make it even easier
to dump dirty mine water and allowed only four working days for public
consultation.
“Today, Mr
Seeney is also talking up the introduction of a complicated pollution trading
scheme, which the public has only one more day, tomorrow, to provide feedback
on.
“Mr Seeney is
forcing his dirty water deal down the throats of the people of Rockhampton with
no consultation and no appropriate planning or process.
“Mr Seeney
has criticised an ad-hoc approach to decision making on this issue but his
announcement today that he is looking at establishing a salinity trading system
shows the Deputy Premier is making it up as he goes along.
“His approach
is the very definition of ad-hoc, Mr Seeney brings in new laws and then tries
desperately to justify them. The long-term approach Mr Seeney talks about should
have been developed before he introduced his new laws allowing for open-slather
water releases,” she said
Member for
Rockhampton Bill Byrne said the legislation introduced into Parliament last week
which makes it even easier for the release of dirty mine water is further
evidence of the LNP Government not talking to the public about the decisions
affecting the community.
“It is
obvious the LNP Government planned to release this dirty mine water all along
and now they are using their massive majority in Parliament to do it with no
consultation,” Mr Byrne said.
“The LNP
Government has completely ignored the people of Rockhampton in this decision
making process.
“The people
of Rockhampton are still very concerned about what effects the release of this
dirty water will have on the supply of our drinking water.
“We will
fight the release of this dirty water into our drinking water supply every step
of the way.
“The
haphazard way in which Mr Seeney has attempted to manage this environmental
disaster reeks of the usual contempt with which he treats serious environmental
issues.
“It is
frightening that the Deputy Premier can make this decision in such a
disorganised manner with obviously no proper planning or
process.
“The release
of dirty mine water is strongly opposed by the people of Rockhampton, which
raises the question whose interests is the Deputy Premier representing,” he
said.
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