FISH FARM EXPANSION TO FACE FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL SCRUTINY

Minister Corrects Public Record

The Tasmanian Greens said that the Environment Minister Brian Wightman had today reluctantly admitted that, contrary to previous statements, the controversial aquaculture expansion at Macquarie Harbour would be assessed by the Federal Environment Department under the Environment Protection, Biodiversity and Conservation Act (1999).

During Budget Estimates, the Environment committee was advised that there had been no formal referral submitted, despite a referral dated for the previous day having been posted on the Federal Department of Sustainability and Environment’s website.

In Parliament today, Greens Primary Industries spokesperson Kim Booth MP called on the Minister to correct the record.

“This might be just a case of simple oversight, but it’s hard to believe that both the Minister and his Department would be unaware of something as fundamental as an EPBC referral for such a major project,” Mr Booth said.

“A more rigorous assessment is clearly needed, because the expansion of these fish farms carries major environmental risks including potential impacts on water quality within the Harbour, threatened species, and the ecology of the adjoining World Heritage Area.”

“Even the panel in charge of assessing marine farm proposals has admitted that it is not clear about the environmental risks associated with the expansion.”

“The Greens are urging anyone who is concerned about the environmental impacts of this project to make a submission to the Federal Environment department before the submission date closes,” Mr Booth said.

http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_detail&proposal_id=6406
Kim Booth MP Greens Primary Industries Spokesperson Wednesday, 20 June 2012