The Tasmanian Greens today called on the Primary Industries Minister Bryan Green to rethink his blind support for a proposed marine farm expansion in Macquarie Harbour, given serious environmental concerns revealed in documents obtained by the Greens under Right to Information.
Greens Primary Industries spokesperson Kim Booth MP said the departmental documents showed that annual underwater surveys identified “unacceptable environmental impacts” and breaches of licence conditions for five consecutive years between 2005 and 2009.
“Marine farming is a major job creator and economic driver for regional areas of Tasmania, and adds value to our brand as our state,” Mr Booth said.
“It’s vital that all processes associated with aquaculture in Tasmania meet licence conditions, to ensure that the industry’s clean and green brand reflects their operating reality.”
“These survey results should have sounded alarm bells for the Minister, who has so far been unconditional in his support for the expansion of marine farming in Macquarie Harbour.”
“Presumably Minister Green knew about these breaches when he promised to support the proposed expansion, and to override any decision to the contrary if he deemed it necessary.”
“The Minister must reveal what penalties were applied and what action has been taken to prevent a repeat of these breaches, which occurred within the waters of the Southwest Conservation Area and the waters adjacent to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.”
“One of our biggest concerns is that the Tasmanian community is completely disempowered under the current marine farm planning system and the Minister is given unrestrained power to back any pet project.”
“Labor and Liberal voted to water down Tasmanian’s aquaculture planning laws last year and now the Minister has the sole power to approve or veto any marine farming development by bypassing the Independent Marine Farming Planning Review Panel.”
“The Greens remain firm that the best way to avoid inappropriate aquaculture developments would be for marine farm planning to be brought under the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act.”
“The aquaculture industry should be supported to expand in appropriate locations, but it is important for both the environment and the ongoing viability of the industry that these developments meet environmental guidelines,” Mr Booth said.
Download: Documents obtained by the Tasmanian Greens under Right to Information:
Jan2012_RTI_response.pdf
