Threat to Mole Creek water

Kim Booth, Press Release

“This audit has confirmed the worst fears of the community and some councillors that this conversion of native forest to plantation could damage and poison the water supply with harmful forestry chemicals.”

Kim Booth MHA

Monday, 14 August 2006

MOLE CREEK WATER THREATENED BY PLANTATION PLAN

Leaked Independent Audit Confirms Community Fears and Slams Approval by Forest Practices Office

The Tasmanian Greens today released a leaked independent audit of two approved logging plans which are adjacent to the pristine Mole Creek town water supply.

The audit was commissioned by Meander Valley Council after concern was expressed by the community and some councillors into the potential damage that logging and plantation establishment may cause to the pristine and chemical free water supply that feeds the Mole Creek township.

The independent audit by Gutteridge Haskins and Dawkins (GHD) reviewed Forest Practices Plans (FPPs) TAS 0123 and 0124.

Key recommendations included:

· 1. “With regard to potential health risk exposures…a detailed hydrological investigation [is needed] that traces the flow of the unmarked stream, establishing if there is any tributary flows contributing to the town water supply.”

· 3. “It is recommended that the width of the streamside reserve be reviewed ie increased by an additional 20 metres.”

· 5. “With regards to the control of browsing, it is recommended that both FPPs be amended to clearly ban the use of baiting and shooting (except where carcasses are gathered and removed).”

· 6. “With regards to the application of herbicide chemicals it is recommended that the FPPs are either prevented from any form of chemical application or highly restricted to the use of only low residue treatments, ie, such as Roundup Biactive.”

· 8. “It is highly recommended that appropriate contingencies be developed and implemented providing advance warnings of burning operations. These should be included in the FPPs and copies should also be provided to the relevant landowners (S.5.3.3 “There appears to be no consideration for the potential impact of smoke generation on the health of adjoining landowners.”)

Greens Shadow Spokesperson for Industrial Forestry, Kim Booth MHA, said today that he was deeply disturbed that any forest practices plan had been approved that could affect the water supply to Mole Creek and called on the Premier to step in and stop the proposed logging.

“Premier Lennon must immediately intervene in the interests of the health and well being of the Mole Creek community,” said Mr Booth.

“This audit has confirmed the worst fears of the community and some councillors that this conversion of native forest to plantation could damage and poison the water supply with harmful forestry chemicals.”

“I am deeply disturbed that these barbaric and third world practices are still continuing.”

“The audit indicates a failure to identify streams and to protect the karst and threatened species.”

“In addition, it calls for a ban on the use of 1080 and severe restrictions on the chemicals to be used, if any.”

“It is unacceptable that Tasmanian water supplies continue to be contaminated by potentially carcinogenic chemicals,” said Mr Booth.

Earlier: Forestry is destroying communities