Bob McMahon Press Release
Water in parts of Launceston and the West Tamar is undrinkable. Lake Trevallyn is full of blue/green algae bloom. There is not much water flowing into it because the South Esk is a degraded trickle and the Great Lake storage is at 15% capacity. It is from Lake Trevallyn that Gunns imagines it can take 3000 tonnes of water an hour for a pulp mill. This is a fantasy. We no longer have a water supply problem. We have a water supply disaster.
On Saturday March 3rd, between 10.30 am and 1.00 pm., the Cataract Gorge and Tamar Basin will be packed with a variety of small craft. At the same time, the adjacent Kings Park will be filled with people, all participating in a Land and Water Rally organized by Tasmanians Against the Pulpmill (TAP).
TAP spokesperson Bob McMahon said:
“Water in parts of Launceston and the West Tamar is undrinkable. Lake Trevallyn is full of blue/green algae bloom. There is not much water flowing into it because the South Esk is a degraded trickle and the Great Lake storage is at 15% capacity. It is from Lake Trevallyn that Gunns imagines it can take 3000 tonnes of water an hour for a pulp mill. This is a fantasy. We no longer have a water supply problem. We have a water supply disaster.”
“The frustration amongst the farming community, many of whom are restricted or completely banned from irrigating due to low river flows, but fully aware Hydro Tasmania intends to supply the proposed mill with 26 billion litres a year, is very obvious and painful to see,” veterinary surgeon, Dr. Michael Morris said.
Long-time river campaigner, Jim Collier said:
“Recent low tides graphically illustrate how serious the Tamar Basin degradation is. The Cataract Gorge and the Tamar River need every drop of water they can get simply to survive. If Hydro Tasmania has water to spare it should increase the natural flow through the Gorge and into the Tamar Basin before selling it to Gunns for their proposed mill.”
