George River Water Quality Panel

Expert Panel to Address George River Water Quality Issues
A panel of eminent, independent scientists has been brought together to address scientific
research issues and risks linked to water quality in the George River in Tasmania’s northeast.
The formation of the panel followed a recommendation by the Director of Public Health that a
process be established to address the issues raised in Australian Story ABC television
program.
The independent Chair of the Board of the Environment Protection Authority (EPA), John
Ramsay, has convened the Panel and will co-ordinate the gathering of the evidence and its
assessment by the experts.
“Panel members have been selected for their expertise in water quality, public health,
aquaculture, the chemistry of eucalypts and environmental toxicology,” Mr Ramsay said.
“It is the role of the panel to examine the evidence, write a report and then pass it onto the
Premier – my role is to facilitate this.”
Panellists are:
Water quality – Graeme Batley is a Chief Research Scientist in CSIRO’s
Environmental Biogeochemistry research program;
Public health – Dr John McNeil is head of the Monash University School of Public
Health and Preventative Medicine;
Aquaculture – Christine Crawford is Program Leader for Natural Resource
Management at the Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute;
Chemistry of eucalypts – Distinguished Professor Jim Reid from the University of
Tasmania’s School of Plant Science; and
Environmental toxicology – Professor Michael Moore is Chair of Water Quality
Research Australia and past Director of the National Research Centre for
Environmental Toxicology.
Co-ordinating scientist and consultant to the panel is Dr Lois Koehnken.
Terms of reference – to:
1. review the results of the research carried out by Drs Bleaney and Scammell and any
other relevant studies;
2. decide whether any further characterisation of toxins in the water and their source or
toxicity studies are required to help determine whether the toxicity reported on
Australian Story represents a significant risk to:
a. Drinking water supplies, in St Helens (or more broadly given that many water
catchments in the State will contain significant areas of eucalypts);
b. Shellfish culture in Georges Bay or more broadly; or
c. Aquatic ecosystems.
3. commission or facilitate the undertaking of any such studies by suitably qualified and
independent scientists; and
4. provide an interim and final report to the Government on the findings of the review
and any further studies carried out. The final report should include recommendations
as to any actions or policies arising from the investigation.
Mr Ramsay said all information gathered and reviewed throughout the process would be
made public on www.georgeriverwater.org.au Details of the expertise and experience of the
Panel members will also be available on the website.
“The panel is also establishing a register of stakeholders and will provide information to
individuals and interest groups.
“Registrations of interest from the broader community should be lodged via the website
when it goes live at the end of the week,” he said.
Mr Ramsay said that on behalf of the Panel he is seeking all relevant information and reports
from the Director of Public Health, the Secretary of the Department of Primary Industries,
Parks, Water and Environment, Drs Bleaney and Scammell and Slater and Gordon.
An interim report addressing points one and two will be provided to Government of the day
by the end of May 2010.

Download:
GRWQP_CVs_-_Panel_As_distributed.pdf
John Ramsay