TONY SADDINGTON
“Instead of claiming it’s not true, Mr Llewellyn can squash these rumours once and for all, by explaining how enough water will be available from existing supplies in Great Lake, to release into the South Esk for Gunns’ mill during dry summers”, he said.
Media Release 17 May 2009
Was the Meander Dam built for Gunns?
TAP Into a Better Tasmania spokesman Mr Tony Saddington said today “The Water Minister David Llewellyn has a golden opportunity to put to rest rumours the Meander Dam was built for Gunns’ pulp mill”.
“Instead of claiming it’s not true, Mr Llewellyn can squash these rumours once and for all, by explaining how enough water will be available from existing supplies in Great Lake, to release into the South Esk for Gunns’ mill during dry summers”, he said.
“TAP is looking forward to some sound evidence from the Minister confirming water will be available for everyone every summer, including Launceston’s drinking supplies, environmental flows in the Gorge, the planned diversions to the midlands, and farmers’ future irrigation needs,” he said.
“The Minister must also advise Tasmanians by how much Great Lake levels are expected to drop due to global warming, and by how much South Esk River levels will drop from Gunns’ plantations in the headwaters,” he continued.
Great Lake supplies most of the water to the South Esk, and is close to approaching all time lows.
“If he can assure Tasmanians there will be enough summer flow into the South Esk over the next 30 years, without the need for top ups from the Meander Dam, then any rumour that the dam was built for Gunns is completely false,” said Mr Saddington.
“It’s over to the Minister to explain rather than blame”, he said.
