*Pic: Spot the difference …
• Huon Aquaculture says “Take your own images”
Since Huon Aquaculture began operation of their Hatchery in 2007 they have been telling the residents, the media and State authorities the long green filamentous algae also grows upstream.
Since 2008 I have been requesting photographic evidence of any upstream algae from the Huon Aquaculture and the EPA. None has been forthcoming and despite my year-round exploration upstream I have never seen any evidence of this algae – and neither have any of our neighbours.
Executive Director Frances Bender spoke at a public recent gathering of 50 residents concerned about the impacts of the Aquaculture industry on our environment, waterways and residents.
In response to a question from me about the Russell River, she stated:
(FB) “The weed does grow upstream . and there … it is currently upstream … I will, we actually were, if we haven’t already got them, um, they were in the process of being being (sic) taken … so I can um, supply you with those.”
And at the end of the meeting, the MC summarised and stated:
(MC) “Mrs Bender said she is going to respond to those issues that you have raised with photographs and information (FB) Yep (MC) once that comes through”
Following this public meeting and “promises” I received a pdf letter dated 6th November 2015 from Frances Bender which was little more than a press release and confirmation they were working under an EPN from the EPA.
Not one of the questions I had put in writing to Frances Bender August 10th – or to Peter Bender previously – were addressed in her letter.
There were seven pics embedded in the pdf letter, 3 showing some algae, 4 showing a green hue to the water. Because they are embedded they are poor quality and I am not able to enlarge and inspect correctly – so I politely wrote back the Huon Aquaculture and requested if they would send me jpeg images as attachments to the email.
The expected and not surprising response from Ms Jane Gallichan, Corporate Affairs Officer was:
“We encourage you to take your own images and the photos included in the response from Mrs Bender on 6 November were taken for our internal guidance and provided to you as a gesture of goodwill. For your own investigations, we ask you to take your own images.”
And Director Wes Ford from the EPA advised me his Senior Officer took photos on her mobile phone Ocotober 8th 2015. However they would not be supplying these images to me.
There is absolutely no evidence of this long green filamentous algae that is prolific downstream of the Hatchery discharge and these people must stop being – in my view – deceitful.
• Download audio files …
Mrs_Bender_will_respond_with_photos_and_information.mp3
Frances_Bender_We_will_provide_photos_of_upstream_algae.mp3
PRESS RELEASE
Sunday, 6 December 2015
eNOFF is eNOFF
Why “Neighbours of Fish Farming” is failing the Community
On a wet cold winters night in July this year 70 residents from the Huon Valley region, including Kingborough and Bruny Island, attended the first meeting of what is now called Neighbours of Fish Farming (NOFF). The energy in the room was palpable and it was a positive show of interest to gain a better understanding of the many issues the bourgeoning Aquaculture Industry is having on our various Communities.
The meeting was well orchestrated under the control of a very competent MC who kept tightly to the agreed agenda and time, and effectively controlled any animosity and outbursts – including those from the self-nominated Convenor.
Residents freely provided their email contacts and many gave a financial donation to assist in getting this Community group up and running in order to give a voice to the many residents who are truly affected by excessive noise, lights, water pollution and recreational access to our waterways. Many are also concerned about the lack of independent science, the bullish behaviours being demonstrated by some in the industry, and the unabated growth mantra of our Government regardless of any environmental and community impacts.
Very similar to the failed Ernesto Sirolli experience back in September 2010, http://www.oldtt.pixelkey.biz.au/index.php/article/sirolli-who, NOFF is rapidly showing signs of going down the very same path.
Despite numerous requests to NOFF over the past two months I cannot get any response from the Convenor, Ms De-arne Webb or anyone to a number of questions I have posed.
I have also requested my current Change.org petition to “Close down old Aquaculture Flow Through Ponds in Tasmania” be forwarded to the NOFF database but again no response or agreed assistance from NOFF.
My unanswered requests are very simple:
• Who is on the NOFF executive and committees and their contact details
• How many financial members and what is the current financial position
• What is the status of incorporation and the official NOFF address
• The date of the next NOFF executive meeting and public meeting
NOFF cannot be seen to fail as it appears TARA (Tasmanian Aquaculture Reform Alliance) did before it. We do need a Community voice, and we need to have an open dialogue between interested residents, the Industry and our various State and Local governing bodies.
Please write to [email protected] and request the same information I am requesting. Please lobby the NOFF executive to ask “members” to agree or disagree to allow their email contact details to be shared with other NOFF members.
We must have freedom of information. We must have an open and ongoing sharing of knowledge and communication.
Please feel free to contact me directly on [email protected]. If necessary perhaps we simply establish our own email database to share our various stories and the many issues pertaining to the Aquaculture Industry.
Geoffrey Swan
Lonnavale, TASMANIA 7109
